201811.17
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Surfing Santas bring holiday cheer to O.C.’s Salt Creek

by in News

The Surfing Santa event in the sand and surf at Salt Creek is all about spreading the holiday spirit.

Surfers and stand-up paddleboarders hit the water Saturday for the 8th annual Surfing Santa event in Dana Point, put on by the The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel.

The surf contest also serves as a fundraiser for Surfers Healing, a non-profit that helps children on the autism spectrum learn to surf.

  • Goff Stepien competes in the Kris Kringle men’s SUP division during the Surfing Santa event in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. The charity event benefits Surfers Healing. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Goff Stepien gets some air as he competes in the yule loggers longboard division during the Surfing Santa event in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. The charity event benefits Surfers Healing. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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  • Anne Harrington gets ready to hand her boyfriend Goff Stepien his reindeer after he finishes his heat in the Surfing Santa event in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Enzo Ackermann wipes out during his heat during the Surfing Santa Charity event in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Daniel Hughs cruises the waves during the annual Surfing Santa fundraiser in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Grant Richey, 17, competes in the Surfing Santa competition in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Volunteer Bucky Barry gives Christopher Nieratko, 9, a happy ride during the Surfing Santa charity event benefiting Surfers Healing, a surf camp for children with autism like Christopher. The annual event was in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Carolyn Sachese, 14, a San Clemente High School student, competes during the annual Surfing Santa charity event in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Cris Nieratko, her son Nicholas, 7, and dog Benny, watch the Surfing Santa competition in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Nieratko’s son Christopher, 9, who has autism, was also surfing with Surfers Healing volunteer Bucky Barry. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Boys hit the surf in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018 where they were competing in the Surfing Santa charity event. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Volunteer Bucky Barry gives Christopher Nieratko, 9, a happy ride during the Surfing Santa charity event benefiting Surfers Healing, a surf camp for children with autism like Christopher. The annual event was in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Volunteer Bucky Barry gives Christopher Nieratko, 9, a happy ride during the Surfing Santa charity event benefiting Surfers Healing, a surf camp for children with autism like Christopher. The annual event was in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Surfers are decked out in Christmas spirit as they compete in the Surfing Santa event in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Seven-month-old Vera Sampson gets her hat adjusted by mom, Andra during the Surfing Santa event in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Her dad, Tim Sampson, is the surfing coach at Dana Hills High School. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Charlie, a 13-week-old labradoodle owned by Yuliya and Jeff Flynn, enjoys an outing to the Surfing Santa competition in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Cheap psychiatric help could be found at the annual Surfing Santa charity event in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

  • Clouds add texture to the sky during the Surfing Santa event in Dana Point on Saturday, November 17, 2018. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Many of the competitors were decked out in Santa hats and other holiday-inspired costumes, hoping to earn a $500 prize for best costume.

The two-day event, which runs through Sunday Nov. 18, is also the kick off for the annual Holiday Surfboard Auction, which runs through Dec. 31. The auction showcases hand-painted surfboards, on display at the resort’s lobby.

Through the years, the resort has raised more than $350,000 for Surfers Healing, a non-profit created by surfer Izzy Paskowitz and wife, Danielle. Their son Isaiah is autistic.

Since they started the foundation 21 years ago, hundreds of thousands of kids with autism have surfed with the nonprofit, free of charge.