By Marty Basch

To those who knew him, friends might not even have recognized Joel Speakman in the white beard.

The Bethel, Maine financial advisor was among a steady number of jolly skiers and riders outside Sunday River's South Ridge base lodge all dressed in similar fashion: a red Santa hat with white pompom, red Santa jacket, red Santa pants and Santa beard.

"This isn't really very breathable," confided the skiing Santa about his festive outfit. "With a beard and suit, it's a bit hot under here."

Yo, Ho Ho

Despite the unorthodox garb, some 250 skiing and snowboarding Santas ushered in the seasons of snow, shopping and holidays on Dec. 5 during the Newry resort's 11th annual Santa Sunday, a fundraiser for the Bethel Rotary's Club annual children's holiday gift drive.

In exchange for dressing up, making at least a $10 cash donation and participating in a 45-minute photo shoot, the red-suited bunch got to ski that day and received another lift ticket.

Some $2270 was raised.

We Are Family

Conrad Dugal, a program analyst for the state from Augusta, made the drive down with his family and was participating for the fifth time.

""This really is a good deal and let's me get out skiing with the family," he said.

Though the Santas were dressed similarly they weren't all the same. There was a robed Santa carrying cowbells and a few rogue riders dress with bandanas around their beards in a way made notorious by snowboarding icon Shaun White. Other Santas faces seemed lost in huge beards while a football-loving Santa donned a warm Patriots hat on her head and had the words "Ho Ho Ho" emblazoned on the backside of a pair of satin-like boxer shorts.

Santa Skis, Santa Rides

Aaron and Andrea Webster from Lisbon were a skiing-and-riding couple. She skied and he rode a snowboard.

"I must admit, the pants are a bit tight and it's hard to maneuver," said the snowboarder. "But it's worth it."

The husband-and-wife have participated in a number of the early season Santa days with Andrea enjoying skiing by children.

"It's great to see the kids," she said. "Whenever we ski by they yell out and say hi."

The Santas transformed the base area into something of a Santas' Village. A wave of skiing and snowboarding Santas is an impressive sight whether they are congregating for a photo, loading the South Ridge Express four at a time or skiing down the Broadway trail.

Though Sunday River gained bragging rights for opening October 22 and being the country's first resort to do so this season, for many Sunday made it feel the ski season finally arrived.

Hey Santa, Got My List?

Though she didn't come by a one-horse or reindeer-powered sleigh, Ann Wischerth drove in a caravan from Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, some 90 miles away.

She was with a group of 24 snow lovers who make it a weekend.

"This is my third year," said the Barnet, Vermont skier. "I see it as a good way to start the season off and get my ski legs back. This really is a lot of fun and a good cause. Also, if I fall, I don't know anyone here."

Said Speakman, "Doing this puts me in a Christmas mood and it tells me the ski season is really here."

And for those not wearing red, it was a good time to check in with Santa to be sure he had that all-important list.