The beaches of Cocoa Beach, Florida were filled with hundreds of “Surfing Santas” on Saturday morning as an annual tradition continued despite freezing temperatures. From 2009, this event has grown to include more than 800 surfers—many dressed in full Christmas attire—and nearly 10,000 people gathered on the beach to watch. This event not only brings joy and festive cheer to the area but also raises tens of thousands of dollars for local charities in the area.
The Surfing Santa Challenge began when George Trosset, a surf shop owner and former professional surfer, decided to honor his late father by creating a surfing Santa event. With the help of friends and family, Trosset was able to organize a small group of surfers dressed in Santa costumes for what would become the first annual Surfing Santa Challenge. Over the years, the event has grown.
In addition to providing support for Grind For Life—a charity that helps people with cancer—the event also benefits The Florida Surf Museum. The museum preserves surf culture and heritage through educational programming and events like this one that celebrates its importance. The museum also recently received a grant from Visit Florida which will allow them to expand their programming and make it even easier for visitors to learn about surfing history in Florida.
The Surfing Santa Challenge is a wonderful holiday tradition that brings joy and festive cheer while raising money for great causes like Grind For Life and The Florida Surf Museum. Despite freezing temperatures throughout most of Florida this weekend, hundreds of brave “Surfing Santas” still took part in this beloved tradition. It’s truly inspiring how something so small can have such a big impact on so many people. We look forward to seeing what next year’s challenge will bring!
