Outdoors/Adventure

Video: 600 Santas ski for free at Alyeska

Everyone knows how busy Santa is on Christmas Eve. But before he took off on his around-the-world sleigh ride, he stopped by Alyeska Resort in Girdwood to carve a few turns in the powder.

More than 600 skiers donned Santa suits, complete with red hats and white beards, and skied for free during Alyeska's annual Santas Ski Free day. According to Alyeska Resort General Manager Di Whitney, the resort has been doing this since at least 1994, when she came to Girdwood to work as a lift operator.

As an added bonus for skiers and boarders, Christmas Eve marked the first day that the double-black-diamond Christmas Chute was open in two years, and the first time it has opened before Dec. 25 since 2009. The run is so named because traditionally it has opened in time for Christmas.

Alyeska is raving about "fantastic" snow conditions on the mountain, reporting 204 inches total so far this season, with a current depth of 50 inches at the top of the mountain. The lifts open at 10:30 a.m. Christmas Day and holiday night skiing is offered through Jan. 2, with the exception of New Year's Eve.

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