RIP: Los Angeles' Beloved 'Surfing Santa Claus'

Per the Easy Reader:

“As director of the Hermosa Surf Camp from 1991 to 2024, Vince Ray shared the stoke of surfing with more groms than anyone else in South Bay history. Each summer over 400 kids attended his camp in front of the 10th Street lifeguard tower, just south of the Hermosa Beach pier. Kids learned not only to stand on a surfboard, but also to read the ocean, surfing etiquette, and some unconventional maneuvers like the coffin, the cockroach and Ray’s signature model pose.

“Every holiday season, Ray further shared the stroke as Easy Reader’s Surfing Santa. He made sure Santa was in perfect trim on an overhead wave for the photo that would appear on the cover of Easy Reader’s holiday issue.”

Regarding his role as Santa, and his surfing acumen, Ray said:

“I don’t want people to think Santa is a kook.”

The Easy Reader continued:

“Ray passed away Wednesday morning, January 4, at age 66, after a brief fight with pancreatic cancer.

“Saturday, February 24, on the beach at 10th Street in Hermosa, where he conducted his camp, Ray’s former campers, surf instructors, and lifelong friends gathered for a paddleout in his memory.”

RIP, Vince.