MALCOLM DENEMARK/FLORIDA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK
Fleeing The North Pole, Thousands Of Surfing Santas Florida Bound For Christmas Eve
In the surf world, Cocoa Beach is known for one thing and one thing only: the hometown of one Robert Kelly Slater. Local waters for the 11-time world champ and undisputed greatest competitive surfer in history, Slater may be getting a run for his money in his hometown as the annual Surfing Santa gathering is expected to draw thousands this Christmas Eve.
Created in 2009 by Florida's George Trosset, over the years the annual Kris Kringle shred session has grown in popularity with more and more Santas forsaking the North Pole for the Florida sunshine. In 2021, the Surfing Santa event reached new heights when football legend Doug Flutie dropped in on everyone from a helicopter.
But more than just another day at the beach, the Surfing Santa event does a world of good. Proceeds generated go to Grind For Life, which is a non-profit that provides financial assistance to cancer patients and their families who are forced to travel long distances for their treatments, as well as the Florida Surf Museum, which continues to preserve the history, heritage and culture of the Florida surf scene.
Should you find yourself fleeing the cold and snow of other parts of the country and reveling in Cocoa Beach's sunny weather over the Christmas holiday, the Surfing Santas festivities take place on December 24 and run from 7:30am to 12pm. On the itinerary for the days is a costume contest, group photos, live music and Hawaiian dancing. And if you're in town, be sure to stop by and snap a selfie with the bronze Slater statue.
