Contract Claus Is Season Veteran

Who would have guessed that Santa Claus is so adept at using chopsticks.

But then again, this is the portly man who squeezes through chimneys and takes a team of flying reindeer around the globe one night every year.

On a much-needed break from his pre-Christmas duties at the Janss Marketplace in Thousand Oaks, Santa Claus--who come Friday will be Dennis Van Vuren--maneuvers a California roll with all the dexterity of a surgeon.

“Santa loves his sushi,” he said between mouthfuls. “He needs the energy.”

And how.

For the past 18 years, beginning the day after Thanksgiving and ending the day after Christmas, Van Vuren has forsaken his 9-to-5 life for the flowing white beard and red fur suit.

And though he has had to cope with countless respiratory infections passed on by bubbly tots and skin irritations caused by the spirit gum he uses to attach his beard, the 41-year-old Simi Valley resident said he wouldn’t trade his holiday persona for the world.

“You get to spend Christmas with thousands of people,” he said, after lighting a half-smoked cigarette picked from an ashtray in his dressing room. “It’s a great feeling . . . putting a smile on people’s faces and watching kids run at you from across the mall; what could be better?”

And parents seem to appreciate the job he is doing.

“What would Christmas be without a trip to Santa?” asked Susan Clay, as her 4-year-old son, Scott, bounced happily on Van Vuren’s knee.

“He’s great,” she said of the veteran mall Santa. “He’s a lot of fun. Look at that rapport.”

Van Vuren--who is Santa in the new Eggo Waffles commercial--owns Simi Valley-based Crazy California Clowns, which provides clowns for parties. He says he started in the Santa business early and by fluke.

While Van Vuren was working as a hobo clown in San Diego, the regular Santa got sick and he stepped in. Van Vuren was hooked.

“I liked it a lot, but I have to admit that I wasn’t all that good,” he said. “But after awhile you learn what works and what doesn’t.”

To win a child’s heart, Van Vuren has a host of tricks up his sleeve, all of which involve candy canes.

Sometimes the younger children are scared, so he will tickle them or make funny faces. Other times, older kids come and question his credibility.

“I had one boy who came in last year and told me that he didn’t believe that I was Santa anymore,” he said. “So I told [him] that I was just his helper, because Santa was so busy.

“So he told me that if there is a real Santa, he’s probably a lot like me.”

Van Vuren said he has no plans to hang up the fuzzy red hat any time soon. The perks--smiles, hugs and laughter--are just too good.

“When you’re Santa Claus, you’re part of Christmas,” he said, getting ready to greet shoppers with a bellowing ho-ho-ho. “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

* JACK FROST ARRIVING: Subfreezing temperatures through Friday put Ventura County farmers on guard. B4