Surfing Santas Are A Christmas Eve Tradition

It all started in 2009 when a beach family decided it would be a good idea to dress up as Santa, grab their boards and paddle out into the waves. That goofy beginning has now grown to become an annual event that raises tens of thousands of dollars for local charities and draws surfing and Christmas enthusiasts from all over the planet.

For ten years spectators (who now number almost 10,000) have come to ogle the brave pseudo-Santas who endure the often quite chilly waters off Cocoa Beach on Chistmas Eve morning.  With 800 of them all trying to grab the perfect wave, the scene can get pretty chaotic.  The city of Cocoa Beach sponsors the fun and local businesses love the traffic, so fun is had by all.

And along with the hilarity, the event, like Santa himself, brings presents to good little organizations like the Florida Surf Museum which is “Preserving Florida’s Surfing History” and Grind for Life, a local charity benefiting people suffering from cancer.

Want to join this festive crowd? The first professional surfer, Phil Edwards, once said, “The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun.” According to the group’s website, “On December 24th at 8:00am, the world’s “best surfers” of all skill levels and all ages will be in Cocoa Beach fully clad in their finest holiday gear and having the most fun the Christmas surf and sun can provide. Get your costumes ready and plan to join the fun this Christmas Eve.”