Nothing says Christmas like a water-skiing Santa

Even Saint Nick needs the occasional workout.

Eric Geller

Updated on May 29 2021 9:53 pm CDT

The day before Christmas is Santa’s busiest day, so it’s a little surprising to see the jolly red-suited man water-skiing on the ice-cold Potomac River in our nation’s capital.

True to form, Santa is accompanied by a pair of water-skiing reindeer, no doubt wishing they could be back in the skies dropping off PlayStations instead of ripping across Washington’s waves for the benefit of startled onlookers and TV news cameras.

“The Water-Skiing Santa,” as he is formally known, is an annual tradition in the D.C. area. This was the 29th year in a row that Santa has graced the capital with his presence.

Now where are his presents?

Screengrab via NBC News

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Eric Geller

Eric Geller is a politics reporter who focuses on cybersecurity, surveillance, encryption, and privacy. A former staff writer at the Daily Dot, Geller joined Politico in June 2016, where he’s focused on policymaking at the White House, the Justice Department, the State Department, and the Commerce Department.