Surfin’ Santa and the Reindeer

Surfin’ Santa Los Angeles

The annual Surfin’ Santa Competition takes place in November (on the weekend before Thanksgiving). The location is Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. The competitors dress in Santa suits (or other costumes) and paddle out to catch some waves.

Current Surf Conditions

Surfin’ Santa & Stand Up Paddle Board Contest

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel’s Annual Surfing Santa & Stand Up Paddle Board Contest was developed in 2010 to benefit Surfers Healing, the original surf camp for children with autism. Honoring the resort’s commitment to support local worthy causes, while embracing Dana Point’s surf culture, the hotel began with a Holiday Surfboard Auction in benefit of Surfers Healing (now in its 14th year), before creating a holiday surf competition. Both events not only highlight the resort’s world-class location overlooking a famous surf break but also their mission to give back to the local community by connecting in a meaningful way. The surf and SUP contest is a two-day event where contestants dress like Santa or other holiday-inspired characters and battle it out in the waves of Salt Creek Beach, located directly below the resort and known as one of the best surfing destinations in Southern California. Since partnering with Surfers Healing, the resort has raised over $417,000 for the non-profit and looks forward to continue making an impactful difference in the lives of children with autism.

Surfing Museum Open Now

Surfin’ Santa Claus

Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa, is a legendary character originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts to the homes of well-behaved children on the night of Christmas Eve (24 December) or during the early morning hours of Christmas Day (25 December) and coal to naughty kids. The modern character of Santa Claus was based on traditions surrounding the historical Saint Nicholas (a fourth-century Greek bishop and gift-giver of Myra), the British figure of Father Christmas, and the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas (himself also based on Saint Nicholas). Some maintain Santa Claus also absorbed elements of the Germanic deity Wodan, who was associated with the pagan midwinter event of Yule and led the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession through the sky.

Surfers represent a diverse culture

Surfers represent a diverse culture based on riding the waves. Some people practice surfing as a recreational activity while others make it the central focus of their lives. Surfing culture is most dominant in Hawaii and California because these two states offer the best surfing conditions. However, waves can be found wherever there is coastline, and a tight-knit yet far-reaching subculture of surfers has emerged throughout America. Some historical markers of the culture included the woodie, the station wagon used to carry surfers’ boards, as well as boardshorts, the long swim shorts typically worn while surfing. Surfers also wear wetsuits in colder regions.

The sport is also a significant part of Australia’s eastern coast sub-cultural life, especially in New South Wales, where the weather and water conditions are most favourable for surfing.

During the 1960s, as surfing caught on in California, its popularity spread through American pop culture. Several teen movies, starting with the Gidget series in 1959, transformed surfing into a dream life for American youth. Later movies, including Beach Party (1963), Ride the Wild Surf (1964), and Beach Blanket Bingo (1965) promoted the California dream of sun and surf. Surf culture also fueled the early records of the Beach Boys.

The sport of surfing now represents a multibillion-dollar industry especially in clothing and fashion markets. The World Surf League (WSL) runs the championship tour, hosting top competitors in some of the best surf spots around the globe. A small number of people make a career out of surfing by receiving corporate sponsorships and performing for photographers and videographers in far-flung destinations; they are typically referred to as freesurfers. Sixty-six surfboarders on a 13 m (42 ft) long surfboard set a record in Huntington Beach, California for most people on a surfboard at one time. Dale Webster consecutively surfed for 14,641 days, making it his main life focus.

When the waves were flat, surfers persevered with sidewalk surfing, which is now called skateboarding. Sidewalk surfing has a similar feel to surfing and requires only a paved road or sidewalk. To create the feel of the wave, surfers even sneak into empty backyard swimming pools to ride in, known as pool skating. Eventually, surfing made its way to the slopes with the invention of the Snurfer, later credited as the first snowboard. Many other board sports have been invented over the years, but all can trace their heritage back to surfing.

Many surfers claim to have a spiritual connection with the ocean, describing surfing, the surfing experience, both in and out of the water, as a type of spiritual experience or a religion.

Cocoa Beach – Florida

Surfin’ Santa is an annual Cocoa Beach tradition that brings hundreds of surfers of all ages dressed up as Santa. The costumes are as diverse as the people that wear them. Watch them ride in on the waves and kick off your holiday beach-side at this free event that benefits local, charitable causes.

The crowd can participate in a costume contest which is now in its fourth year. Dress up in your favorite winter themed outfit – snowman, Santa and Mrs. Claus, gingerbread man, reindeer, elves – for your chance to win prizes. This year there will be five categories: babies (0-3), kids (4-15), group (2 people or more), men (16+), and women (16+). The Surfin’ Santa costume contest starts at 9 a.m. followed by Santa surfs out at 10 a.m.

There are no rules, so anything goes…well almost! This is a family-friendly event, so please keep that in mind. To ensure the safety of both surfers and spectators, the Cocoa Beach police, fire department, life guards and EMT personnel are on site.

Every year on the morning of December 24th, hundreds of surfers gather on Cocoa Beach dressed as Santa and paddle out to celebrate Christmas. Surfing Santa has a lot of work to do on Christmas Eve night, so he likes to spend his day off pursuing his favorite sport, surfing of course.

This sounds unbelievable but last year we had over 40 million people see TV news stories about Surfin’ Santa around the United States.

Ho… Ho… Ho! By Outrigger canoe and surfboard, Surfin’ Santa and the Reindeer will make their way to the shores of Capitola for their annual visit. Join us on the beach to welcome Santa’s wave riding arrival. Once Santa lands on shore, he’ll joyfully greet the crowd before settling in his beach chair for a nice long visit with all the kids. Be sure to bring your camera to capture a memorable day in Capitola; it makes the perfect Christmas card photo! Enjoy refreshments and face painting while waiting to visit with Santa.