Festive fleet of skiing Santas takes over Alyeska Resort

Updated: December 17, 2021 Published: December 17, 2021

People dressed as Santa, elves, and reindeer gather outside the Bore Tide Bar for a group photo on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021 at Alyeska Resort during the annual Santa Skis Free event. The resort offered free lift tickets for anyone dressed as a Santa, elf, reindeer, Mrs. Claus or the Grinch. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

Over 750 people skied for free at Alyeska Resort on Thursday during its annual Santa Skis Free event, usually held in December depending on conditions.

The requirement to get the free pass is simple: Wear a holiday-themed Santa outfit (or dress as an elf, reindeer, Grinch or Mrs. Claus) and get a free lift ticket.

Matt Wild takes a cellphone video of his wife Kelsey Wild on Thursday at Alyeska Resort. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

Matt Wild was snowboarding with a full Santa suit and long beard, taking cellphone videos of his wife, Kelsey, also decked out head to toe in a Santa suit. “I work on the Slope, so I try to come to this whenever my schedule allows,” he said. “This suit has paid for itself.”

The highest number of tickets issued during the Girdwood ski area’s annual Santa event is around 900, according to Alyeska Resort’s Ben Napolitano.