Among the thousands of spectators are hundreds of waterborne St. Nicks, gnarly elves and even a few grinches.
“We see people with long boards, short boards, electric foiling boards, paddleboards and kneeboards,” Trosset told. “Typically, these different ‘classes’ are at war with each other, but on this day everyone’s sharing the waves and having a great time.”
From a single spectator in 2009—the founder’s three-year-old grandson—the crowds watching Surfing Santas have swollen to many thousands. Trosset and his family started the event in 2009, with just three surfers—himself dressed up as Santa and his children as elves—behind his beach house in Cocoa Beach, considered the Atlantic’s surfing capital. There was also only one spectator—Trosset’s three-year-old grandson. A local paper ran a photo and the caption, “Surfing Santa,” of Trosset in his red suit. “No explanation, no nothing,” Trosset says.The following year, 19 surfers and over 100 spectators showed up unannounced.
Eventually, the Surfing Santas also became involved with a local charity, Grind For Life, which uses its funds for cancer treatment. Trosset says the event has raised $50,000 for the charity, and he expects it to raise another $100,000 this year. “This started out as just a few of us goofing around and now it’s become a benefactor to the community,” he says.
The event goes viral each year, with an estimated 1 billion views online or via traditional media. “Imagine if you’re up in Minnesota and watching this event with five feet of snow outside,” Trosset says. “We believe it brings a billion smiles around the world.”
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