In a festive twist on tradition, Santa Claus was spotted trading his sleigh for a surfboard, while hundreds of others took a bracing Christmas Eve dip in the ocean, all in the name of charity.
Santa Catches Waves in Scotland
Forget the reindeer. In a surprising pre-Christmas workout, Santa was seen riding the waves at the Lost Shores Surf Resort in Newbridge, near Edinburgh. The festive surfer was actually Gorebridge instructor and lifeguard Finn Clark, who donned the full red suit to catch some waves in chilly conditions. The area experienced a partly cloudy day with temperatures ranging from a high of 7°C to a low of 3°C.
Helen's Bay Hosts Annual Santa Splash
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Irish Sea, a massive crowd gathered at Helen's Bay in County Down for the annual Santa Splash. The event, which kicked off at 11 am, began with carol singing and bell ringing before fitness coaches Eamon Swail and Calvin Brennan led a vigorous warm-up session.
Participants, braving the partly sunny weather with highs of 8°C, were a spectacle of festive spirit. The shoreline was a sea of Santa hats, tinsel, and elf ears as swimmers dashed and danced into the freezing ocean waters. The event even attracted local dignitaries, including Agriculture Minister, local MLA, and Mayor of Ards and North Down Councillor Gillian McCollum.
Charities Benefit from Festive Freeze
The core purpose of the chilly celebrations was to raise vital funds. This year's event is supporting two crucial charities: Dementia NI and the Air Ambulance Northern Ireland. The combination of surfing Santas and shivering swimmers highlights the creative and community-driven efforts to support important causes during the festive season.
These events demonstrate how communities across the UK are embracing the Christmas spirit, not just through celebration, but through courageous acts of fundraising, turning a moment of cold discomfort into a wave of warm generosity.
