As seen on the front cover of our Christmas edition, Santa was seen surfing at Ballito’s Salmon Bay just before Christmas.

Photographer Derek Gobbett said he had been talking a morning stroll on the promenade when he spotted Santa walking down to the shore.

“It was unmistakably him, and with his red suit, white beard and twinkling eyes you couldn’t miss him. I was just lucky to have my camera with me at the time.”

He was soon joined by Courier photographer Lesley Naude.

Local surfer Sid Boulanger, who was out ripping waves that morning, testified to the fact.

“It was incredible. Jolly old Nick has some stylish moves on the water,” said Boulanger.

Ballito resident Myrtle Moanner was less pleased.

“My seaside garden was completely trampled by reindeer. They lunched on my prize winning roses and left droppings on my stoep,” she said.

Mr Clause was apparently in Ballito to scope out the availability of chimneys before the big night.

He was overheard saying that he never missed an opportunity to surf in Ballito.