Surfing Santa was back for his annual wave ride at Surfrider Beach in Malibu. To Santa’s surprise, the waves were so small that it was difficult to do more than float. Santa wished he had brought his paddle board instead, but did his best to catch a wave or two. It was still a relaxing day at the beach with Mrs. Claus, Frosty, and a surfing Elf. They spent time playing with children, listening to their special wishes, handing out candy canes, and building sand castles and snowmen.
Santa works hard all year up in the North Pole. It’s a year round job getting everything ready for Christmas morning! Santa needs many helpers here on earth, and some of Santa’s best helpers are Michael Pless, his wife Jill, and his son Michael Jr. They do what they can to help out at their surfing school, M&M Surfing School, in Seal Beach.
Pless likes to teach children with special needs, autistic children, and children with personal challenges, how to surf. He believes that surfing is both therapeutic and a healthy physical outlet; it is especially important since obesity is on the rise with todays youth.
M&M Surfing School also teamed with Wounded Warriors in November to teach over 100 vet’s to surf and paddleboard; offering the wounded warriors both mental and physical healing.
Surfing Santa has been bringing joy to children for over 17 years, with his bare feet and his “Ho..Ho..Ho.” So long, in fact, that he now holds the World Record as Surfing Santa. He certainly was happy today enjoying a little R&R before his big night on the town!
We’ll hope for better, bigger waves when Santa visits Malibu next year!
Text and video by Julie Ellerton