Surfing Santas take over Cornish coast during annual charity Santa Run and Surf 2016
IT was beginning to look a lot like Christmas on the Cornish coast over the weekend as Newquay was inundated with scores of surfing Santas.
Passers-by at the popular tourist spot of Newquay stopped and stared in amazement as the army of festive fun-runners made their way down the beach.
The fancy dress mob then grabbed their boards and took to the water to ride the waves.
The spectacle was all for this year’s annual Santa Run and Surf event at Fistral Beach on Sunday.
Now in its third year, the fundraiser is organised by Fistral Surf Centre and Cornwall Hospice Care and collect money for local charities.
The event first began two years ago to raise cash for the Joe Way Appeal – set up after the tragic Newquay toddler died in May 2008 after being born with a rare genetic condition.
Matt Way, from the Joe Way Appeal, told the : “It’s great to be part of the surfing Santa even and I enjoy taking part as it’s lots of fun and the only chance I will get to surf in a competition.
“We gave the funds for the first year to Cornwall Hospice Care and they moved the run to Fistral beach so there is something for everyone.”
The Santas took to the freezing water to compete for a range of prizes – while other less brave participants who only took part in the run watched from the beach.
There was an open division for men and women as well as an under-16s division.
Matt added: “Christmas is always a hard time of the year for us and our four other children as Joe loved all the fun Christmas things.
“However, this is a fun way to remember him and raise money for a great Cornish charity.”
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