It's not the most well known tradition involving Santa Claus on Christmas Eve nationwide, but plenty of tourists gathered in Alexandria, Virginia on Christmas Eve for an annual Washington spectacle that answers the question - who needs a sleigh when you have water skis?

It was a rainy and dreary weather day, but that didn't keep Jolly St Nick from waterskiing in front of the Old Town waterfront.

This rather skinny version of Santa doesn't exactly have a belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly - perhaps he dropped a few pounds thanks to this bout of exercise. And there were moments when his beard flying in the wind didn't look the most authentic.

But he and his friends - including elves, a clumsy jet-skiing grinch, Frosty the Snowman in a dinghy and some cheerful reindeer still brought plenty of holiday enjoyment to the crowd huddled in the rain under brightly colored umbrellas.

The annual event, now in its 29th year, takes place at the foot of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, which connects Washington and Maryland.