Fierce Competition for Reindeer Backup Team
Competition among the reindeer for appointment to the back-up team is expected to be fierce. So far, more than 700 reindeer have applied to make the squad.
The irony of this is that the back-up squad rarely gets to fly on Christmas Eve.
Santa’s A-team of Reindeer consisting of Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph are required to have a back-up team ready to go at all times.
Officials in the Reindeer Operations Department run the Reindeer Games in an effort to help Santa select which reindeer make the back-up team.
All reindeer who apply must play in the games unless they are part of the Test Flight team of reindeer. If they work the test flights they do NOT have to play in the games.
The back-up team candidates have to qualify by scoring a certain amount of points in the Reindeer Games. Those who do not meet the point level are eliminated. Usually the Reindeer Games flush out about 90% of applicants. After the games another series of private qualifying assignments and tests are given before Santa select which reindeer will make the back-up team.
In the reindeer world, it is a very high honor to be selected to the back-up team.
But the back-up team sits waiting on Christmas Eve at the North Pole. They do not fly unless Santa summons them to either give his regular team a break. The problem is that the A-team of Reindeer usually don’t want breaks and they desire to fly Santa the whole way. So the back-up team usually does not get a chance to fly on Christmas Eve.
For more information about the back-up team of reindeer, please listen to the North Pole Radio News report in the player above.
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Thank you, Elf Harold! Excited to start the reindeer games next week! I hope they enjoy playing the games safely even though it’s a competition. Thank you, Elves Frank and Crash! I want to confirm again how many reindeer are in the back-up team, and if Santa needs to switch to the back-up team from his A team, who would lead Santa’s sleigh instead of Rudolph? 🦌🦌🦌🛷🎅
Have a great weekend and Merry Christmas! 🌟😊