Surf ‘n Santa

Jennifer Kho

NEWPORT BEACH -- While Midwest, New England and Middle Atlantic States

had a white Christmas, Newport Beach and Costa Mesa residents celebrated

the holiday in the sun.

Many families spent time at the beach to surf, to swim or just to

relax.

“We live here in Southern California, 10 minutes from the beach,” said

Bruce Franklin, a Costa Mesa resident. “We’ve got the Pacific Ocean right

here. We’re beginning a new millennium, and this is an excellent place to

be. Across the country, people are in snowstorms with their snow blowers

and whatnot, and we’re here at the beach. It’s a nice place to start the

year and to end the last one.”

Joey Fuschetti, a physical education teacher at Ensign Intermediate

School, took his 2-year-old daughter, Katie, to the beach for an hour of

play before a family get-together.

“She just loves water and the beach, and going to the beach is

something we do every week as daughter and dad,” Fuschetti said. “We’re

hanging out here because we can. It’s the hardest thing for me to go back

home when the beach is the best place to be. It’s the best thing for a

kid to get taken to this huge playground in her pajamas.”

Going to the beach is a Christmas tradition for families such as

Laurent Barone’s and Joe Hoffman’s, who made use of the gift of good

waves -- averaging about 4 feet -- Monday.

Barone and a family friend both surf every Christmas with their

8-year-old sons, who are best friends.

“It’s always nice to spend a few hours here on Christmas,” said

Barone, a Huntington Beach resident. “It’s a tradition. We open presents

in the morning, then get out. After this, we’ll go back and the kids will

play with their new presents. Right now, it’s just the boys -- they are

best friends -- because the girls are too young. But the girls will join

us soon.”

Hoffman and his son, Zach, spent their beach time bodyboarding this

Christmas.

“We believe in surfing Santa,” said Hoffman, a Trabuco Canyon resident

whose license plate reads SURFFMLY. “My wife, Renee, and I come every

Christmas. We usually go skiing afterward, but there’s no snow this week.

But whether it’s surf boards, Boogie boards or wetsuits, we always come

to the beach to try out our new gifts on Christmas. Renee’s not gong to

surf today because she’s pregnant, but she did say she’s going to go out

later just to get wet. Because pregnant or not, we’re always at the

beach.”

Gayle Jarrett, a Costa Mesa resident, came to the beach with her

husband, Jon, and her 3-month-old daughter, Ivy, hoping to start a family

tradition.

“It’s gorgeous outside,” she said. “We were married at the beach, and

we are so blessed to be in California. We’re hoping this will become a

family tradition. Maybe she’ll become a little surfer.”