Florida: Surfing Santas hit the waves for Christmas tradition | SEE PICS

In a festive celebration of Surfing Santas, hundreds of surfers clad as Kris Kringle dashed through the waves at Cocoa Beach, Fla. on Christmas day. Draped in red suits over wetsuits and adorned with impressive white beards, surfers took to the beach break of the Atlantic Ocean. A multitude of spectators gathered in the sand, enjoying Bloody Marys while witnessing the spectacle of numerous Santas riding the waves, as shown in the footage.

When was this tradition started

“We started Suring Santas back in 2009,” George Trosset, 70, told a local news outlet after being named “Citizen of the Year.”

“This will be our 15th year of holding the event. If you told me 15 years ago that Surfing Santas was going to be a viral news event, creating billions of smiles around the world, I’d have looked at you like you’re crazy, but it’s happened,” he added.

Fund raising initiative

The yearly gathering generated $100,000 in funds for the Florida Surf Museum and Grind for Life, an organization assisting individuals diagnosed with cancer in traveling to access treatments, as reported.

Location of the event this year

This year, the event was initially scheduled to relocate to Shepard Park near hotels but organizers reversed their decision following a public outcry from locals in Cocoa Beach, known for its lively beachside bars and restaurants.

The event concluded with a noon "paddle-out" in tribute to Jimmy Buffett, the Florida icon known for his contributions to tropical recreation and relaxation, who passed away earlier this year.

“Before Santa delivers toys and gifts, he’s been breaking away to catch some waves on Christmas Eve morning. Pretty cool, right?,” promotional material for the event read.