On December 11, 2004 Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, and two of Santa's reindeer
joined the Huntington Beach Fun Roll in Southern California for a
Christmas skate that began in Huntington Beach, rolled through
Newport Beach, and ended on Balboa Island. This photo was taken in
front of the main channel in Balboa Harbor.
Copyright ©
Roger Olson
2004 CHRISTMAS SKATE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
by
Roger Olson
Skating Santa Sighting in Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Balboa Island
last Saturday. Yes it is true, Skating Santa, Mrs. Claus, Blitzen, Vixen
were taking a break from the bitter cold of the North Pole to join the HB
Fun Roll Skaters. They all skated down the beach boardwalks bringing cheer
to all they met. Children came a running to see skating Santa and his
rolling party. Santa!!! Santa!!! Was what they were yelling and then
their wish list. Santa would say, "You have been very good this year so
I will see what I can do." Blitzen & Vixen were handing out candy canes
to the children and their adult kids (parents) as part of spreading the
joy of the season. Then after they would take pictures of them and
Skating Santa, the Reindeer and Mrs. Claus, Santa waved good bye wishing
them a Merry Christmas as they continued on their journey to spread the
Joy. Volleyball games stopped, waved and yelled to the rolling parade
with joy.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, they continued to roll to
Newport Beach Pier. Now at the pier there were many more people for the
Santa Parade to play with, putting smiles upon their faces. More candy,
more pictures, more wish lists then off they skated south. The Southern
California weather was extraordinarily nice that day, very sunny with
temperatures go to low 80's and boy was Mrs. Claus, the Reindeer and
Santa very happy to enjoy that. Balboa Pier and the Jetty was more of
the same except while skating on the roads to the Jetty cars passing by
would be blowing their horns loudly, rolling down the windows hanging out,
waving and yelling to Santa's Parade. Oh yes, Santa's Parade of well
wishers was quite safe while skating in the streets and actually helped a
couple of guys cross a very busy street as they were heading to the beach
to chip some balls with their sand wedges. Yes, cars STOP for Santa and let
all that are with pass by in safety. The returning route took them through
Balboa Fun Zone and we are now sure just who was having more fun, locals,
visitors or Santa and his Helpers. We can say everyone was smiling that
was for sure as Santa's group departed. Next up was a resident, woman,
sitting on her front porch with her back to the street enjoying a cup of
coffee, reading the paper in the warmth of the sun. Santa whispered and
motioned to Blitzen "Let's go up and sit down." So they did, startling
the woman, for she surely was not expecting Santa, Reindeer and Mrs. Claus
to drop in for coffee that morning. She could not believe her eyes and
keeping laughing at such a site upon her front deck, at her table with her
that morning. Giving her candy canes, wishing her a Merry Christmas, then
off they rolled. Santa could still hear her laughing as they rolled out of
sight and wondered just who would believe her telling of just what happened
that morning. "You won't believe what happened this morning on my deck
while I was having coffee." Well, would you? You would probably be thinking
of calling those men in white coats.
Returning through Newport Beach Pier area and shops horns were blowing,
children and adults were smiling and yelling Santa. As Biltzson, Vixen
and Mrs. Claus rolled by the Newport Brewery Bar, customers sitting in
the open windows enjoying a cold one looking out to the beach could not
believe their eyes and started cheering. Santa was 40 ft behind a when he
rolled in sight the bar customers WENT CRAZYYYYYYYYYYY with Jo ,
Santa waving back to them while skating on 1 foot so he could face them
as he rolled out of sight. The sight of Santa and group had sparked the
Bar crowd totally so Santa sent Blitzen, Vixen and Mrs. Claus back to
the windows to start working the crowd, then Santa rolled up, customers
were literally hanging out the windows to high five Santa. As Santa was
giving high fives to them, the customers inside the bar were totally out
of control screaming for the guy in Red, SANTA. So in skated Santa, giving
high fives to customers on both sides of the isle, everyone was elated to
have Skating Santa spreading the JOY to young and old patrons alike. You
could just barely hear Santa yelling over the roar of the crowd,
"LET'S PARTY!!!!!" Then out Santa rolled to join Mrs. Claus, Blitzen
and Vixen and wishing everyone the Merriest of Christmas's. I think
the bar folks were way ahead at spreading some Holiday Cheer that day.
Oh the Bar Stories will be flying. Actually, Blitzen was telling some
customers at the windows, "I not going to get him, I had to drag him
out of a bar last night."
Skating onward they all rolled giving candy out, posing for pictures,
taking requests for gift to be left under the tree for Christmas morning.
Surfer dudets and dudes all request new boards and giving shockas to Santa.
Kids would come running with families in tow, people up on balconies were
yelling, cheering down to Santa's rolling Party. Joggers, beach walkers,
cyclists, life guards, park rangers, beach workers, shop owners, homeless
and HB 's finest, police all were touched by the holiday spirit that day.
As Santa's group getting back closer to HB Pier Santa noticed two FINE
looking young girls walking with a guy friend and asked, "Have you girls
been good?" The Blonde said, "No I've been BAD!" To which Santa's reply
was, "I will HAVE to talk with you later little girl." She laughed as
Santa skated out of sight. Back at HB Pier to joy continued with many
approaching Santa's Party to wish a Merry Christmas and, "Are You Real
Santa?" Santa would said, "Yes, go ahead and pinch me." Some children
actually did just that to find out, yes, Santa was real. As Santa and
the group were leaving, Santa again noticed those same two FINE looking
young girls walking on the beach and said so they could hear him, "
There is that NAUGHTY little girl." Oh how she was trying to hold
back her smile and laughter but just couldn't.
You could hear," Merry Christmas to ALL", as they rolled out of sight.
Yes indeed, Joy was spread throughout the beaches that day thanks to
Biltzson, Vixen, Mrs., Claus, Santa's helpers, the HB Fun Roll Gang
and of course the JOLLY OLD GUY in the RED SUIT, SANTA CLAUS himself.
Article and Photo Copyright © by Roger Olson
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