Photos, video: Hundreds of Santas ski and ride for free at Alyeska Resort

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Skiers dressed as Santa Claus make their way to the ski lift Friday, Dec. 23, 2016 in Girdwood. Alyeska Resort traditionally offers free lift tickets to anyone wearing a Santa costume on one day leading up to Christmas. (Loren Holmes / Alaska Dispatch News)

For decades, Alyeska Resort in Girdwood has offered a day of free skiing to anyone who comes wearing a full Santa outfit. This year, over 700 Santas showed up.

"If you show up here dressed head to toe like Santa, we will give you a lift ticket to ski for the day," said Alyeska Resort general manager Brian Burnett. In 2015, the resort gave free lift tickets to more than 600 Santas.

"It's become quite popular over the years," said Burnett.

It's not just Santas that show up though. Burnett has seen elves, Mrs. Claus and even reindeer. "The weirdest thing I've seen on the Santa Ski Free day is Santa chasing his reindeer down the mountain."

"It's a great kickoff to the holiday season," he said. "It gets everybody in the holiday spirit."