'Santa' John Dunsworth declines reindeer meat at Winter Games

Halifax actor JohnDunsworthsays his bid to win the Santa Winter Games in Sweden is progressing well.

"I'm the new guy on the block. I have a littlemystique and I think they're afraid of me," the Canadian representative told CBC's Information Morning Friday.

"I've been gettingprogressivelynicer as the dayapproaches."

But competition is stiff. The Dutch Santa, who daylights as a robotics expert, is "cucumber cool" after two straight wins,Dunsworthsaid. But the veteran champion is generous with tips he told Santa John the key to victory in reindeer riding is to squeeze with your legs, not your boots.

I'm not going to go there. Everything's got Canadian flags on it.- Santa John, when asked about his Santa Speedo

Santa Banana, representingHongKong, had an even more advanced tips:"He's got sticky stuffdown the inside of his leg so he can adhere to the reindeer and won't fall off,"Dunsworthsaid.

Dunsworthsaid he'll modify his suit.

He's also hit his fitness goal of accomplishing 22 sit-ups. He did not say if that was 22 sit-ups in a row, or in total.

No reindeer game for this Santa

But he declined to participate in what may be the dark secret of Santa Claus. At a Santa dinner, he was offered reindeer game.

"I didn't eat the reindeer," he said. "There was reindeer on the menu."

Dunsworth, also known asMr.LaheyofTrailer Park Boysfame, is Canada's representative at the games in Lapland, Sweden. He's competing with 14 Santas from around the world for the title of Top Santa, which will be awarded Saturday.

Santa John said he came to have fun, but now has his sights set on winning at least one competition. He's learning from Santa Banana, who brought two fully dressedSantasas his personal trainers.

"This Santa Banana, he's the only Santa that doesn't have a moustache,because he wants to win the porridge-eating contest,"Dunsworthsaid.

A moustache, he explained, getsin your mouth during competitive eating, posing a choking hazard.

Dunsworthand theSantashave been visiting local schools and touring Europe, including a pilgrimage toBari, Italy, where some of Saint Nicholas's bones are interred. It's long been a major attraction for the faithful and curious.

"I guess it was the first attempt to capitalize on Santa," Dunsworth said.

At one point, his duties called for him to don a Speedo. When asked about it, Dunsworth paused. "I'm not going to go there," he finally said. "Everything's got Canadian flags on it."

Dunsworth dedicated his Santa to Bill Foulton, the long-standing CBC Santa who taught him everything he knows about portraying Father Christmas.

You can hear the entire interview here.