Page 1 - The Friday Flyer ● JUNE 21, 2019

CANYON LAKE’S NEWSPAPER • JUNE 21, 2019

The Motels, Marquez to City enters into fi re POA Board, City
protection services Council to hold joint

perform Saturday at lodge Pg. A3 contract Pg. A3 meeting Pg. A8

Al Van Beenen was Canyon Lake’s oldest barefoot skier and was very well
known amongst the water sport enthusiasts in Canyon Lake. During his 70s
and beyond, Al was one of the better skiers in the country for his age division.

Community mourns

loss of resident Santa

BY DONNA RITCHIE Club’s Ray Novak Perpetual Award. participated in ski tourna-
EDITOR, THE FRIDAY FLYER The award is presented to a member ments throughout the United Al Van Beenen
The Canyon Lake community is who is voted as the most actively valu- States, where he often won was known as
mourning the loss of its resident Santa able member during the year, both on in his age division and set Canyon Lake’s
Claus, Al Van Beenen. Al, 83, passed and off the water, by other Ski Club course records. resident Santa.
away due to medical complications on members. In 2017, he was honored as At the age of 75, Al par- He played
Saturday, June 15, at 4:02 a.m. at Uni- the grand marshal of Canyon Lake’s ticipated in the water ski tour- PHOTO BY DONNA RITCHIE Santa for the
versity California, Irvine. Fiesta Day parade. nament at Warman Lake in past 30 years
A resident of Canyon Lake since Al was Canyon Lake’s oldest bare- Washington, where he holds for Canyon
1975, Al was a beloved member of the foot skier and was very well known the slalom water ski record for Lake’s Breakfast
community. For the past 30 years, Al amongst the water sport enthusiasts in his age division. with Santa, an
played Santa at Breakfast with Santa, Canyon Lake. He was a member of the In 2017, Al, at the age of annual event
an annual event sponsored by the Ski Ski Club for two decades, serving 10 80, skied barefoot in Canyon hosted by the
Club. In recent years, Al also played of those years as president of the club. Lake’s annual Polar Bear Day. Ski Club. In
Santa at the city’s annual Tree Light- Al was an essential part of develop- When Al wasn’t skiing or recent years,
ing event. ing water sports in Canyon Lake and competing in tournaments, he Al also played
Al was named Canyon Lake’s “Vol- taught many skiers the basics of skiing was teaching skiing and safety, Santa for the
unteer of the Year” in 2010. In 2011 and on the lake. pulling skiers with his boat or city’s annual
2014, Al was the recipient of the Ski Throughout his retirement years, Al uuCONTINUED PAGE A4 Tree Lighting.