Well, are they jumping or are they flying?
As the Reindeer Games head into its second event – the Long Jump – that question was asked by one of the many young fans of the games.
Surely, as we know, the reindeer’s talents amaze and confound everyone. They can run fast and jump high and move with the utmost grace and precision. And, yes, when Christmas Eve comes, they will fly Santa’s sleigh all over the world to deliver joy to so many children (well, if we can find Santa, that is).
Anyway, if they can fly all over the world, how do we know they’re just jumping right here in our Long Jump event.
“That’s where I come in,” said Manny Elf. “I look after all the Official Elves, you know, the elves that make sure that the reindeer follow all the rules for the games. We do have strict rules for the Games. The reindeer are not supposed to use their flying powers in the games, and the Official Elves look closely to make sure they don’t.”
Not that the reindeer would ever cheat. Oh no, they’re much to honorable and good for that.
“But every deer gets excited when they are competing for a gold medal,” noted Manny. “And so sometimes they forget they’re not supposed to fly, you know. So we keep an eye on them.”
And even without the flying, the reindeer can jump pretty far. Usually about 24 or 25 miles!
And so the first round begins with Vixen, Cupid, Dasher, Donder, Dancer, Comet, Prancer and Blitzen heading out to the competition area for the first jump.
And all eight put on a great show, all going more than 24 miles on their first jump. But it looks like Cupid, Vixen, Donder and Prancer have gone the farthest on the first day. And so they will return tomorrow for the final round of the High Jump.
Check back tomorrow to see who wins the second gold medal of the games! And after our High Jump, the Great Eight will compete in the Sprint Race, Around The World Marathon, Figure Skating, Speed Skating, Obstacle Course and the 2222 Mile Marathon.
And now for the final day of the Reindeer Games. Today our eighth and final event, the 2,222-Mile Marathon will conclude at the North Pole. The winner will be our final gold medalist of the games.
Welcome back sports fans! We’re in the midst of our final event, the 2,222-Mile Marathon.
Welcome back to the Games! With just one event to go, the Reindeer Games are almost over.
Today we move to the final round of our seventh event; the Obstacle Course.
The Games continued today with our seventh event, the Obstacle Course, an event perhaps more challenging for the elves to build than for our Great Eight Reindeer to complete.
Welcome back to the Hoojamawazit Skating and Ice Cream Palace for the final round of the Speed Skating competition, our sixth event of the Games.
Welcome back to the Hoojamawazit Skating and Ice Cream Palace for the first round of the Speed Skating competition, our sixth event of the season.
The Great Eight put on a great show at the Reindeer Games but Prancer wins Gold!
Welcome back to the Hoojamawazit Skating and Ice Cream Palace for our second day of the Figure Skating event at the Reindeer Games.
After the four-day, Around-the-World Marathon, Santa’s reindeer were a bit tired but nonetheless headed out to the Hoojamawazit Skating and Ice Cream Palace for the first day of the Figure Skating event.
Welcome back to the Games! As the thrilling, yet tiring 10,000-mile Around-the-World Marathon continued, our Reindeer blazed across the sky for the fourth straight day and finally headed for the finish line at the North Pole.
This year's Reindeer Games continued with the third leg of the 10,000-mile Around-the-World Marathon. After wrapping up yesterday’s second led at the White House, the race headed over the Chesapeake Bay and across the Atlantic Ocean to Africa.
The Reindeer Games continued with another long and grueling leg of the Around-the-World Marathon!
Welcome back to the incredible Reindeer Games! After three events at the North Pole, the Games will continue with the first event outside the icy northerns.
And we’re back at the amazing Reindeer Games for the final round of the Sprint Race competition.
We’re back at the Reindeer Games Sprint Race competition. Day two will feature the top four finishers from yesterday - Dasher, Comet, Blizten and Prancer.
After an exciting finish to the Long Jump yesterday, the Reindeer Games continued with our third event, the Sprint Race.
The Reindeer Games continued on Day 4 with an exciting conclusion to the long jump competition.
The Reindeer Games continued on Day 3 with the start of the Long Jump competition, the second of eight exciting events.
It’s the second day of this year's Reindeer Games and the final day of the High Jump competition. Dasher, Donder and Dancer were eliminated yesterday but the rest of the Great Eight are looking for the gold.
Santa’s Reindeer have abilities like no other – they can run fast and jump high and move with the utmost grace and precision.
With a large crowd of elves and reindeer and other North Polians in attendance, Santa officially opened the Reindeer Games today at a packed Workshop Arena. Every seat was filled for the rousing ceremony, as Santa welcomed the famed competitors.
The Games will begin on the Monday following the American holiday of Thanksgiving.