Peter Mel

Peter Mel (born November 24, 1969 in Santa Cruz, California), is a professional surfer and the 2012/2013 Mavericks Invitational Surfing Champion. Mel began his surfing life in Capitola, California before moving on to Santa Cruz. His father John, who started the family business Freeline Surf Design the same year Pete was born, made his boards over the years and gradually brought his son under his shaping wing. In the shadow of Steamer Lane locals Vince Collier, Kevin Reed and especially Richard Schmidt, Mel rose quickly through the line-up ranks with an unprecedented crop of young surfers. Like Schmidt, he would spend many winters in Hawaii, enjoying the less-restrictive conditions and developing his signature style.

Throughout the 1990s, Mel found moderate success on the World Surf League domestic and Qualifying Series, before finally finding his niche during California’s El Nino winter of 1997-98. At the age of 29, Mel was really just coming into his own.^[1]

Known in Santa Cruz as the “Condor” for his extreme wingspan (A nickname Mel was less than fond of), Peter was a shoo-in to claim the $50,000 Billabong XXL Big-Wave Challenge, for paddling into the winter’s biggest wave, but this was not to be and Peter ended up just short of the honor that year. Mel finished eighth in the 1998 Surfer Magazine Reader’s Poll Awards ^[2] and established himself as California’s most reputable big-wave rider. Peter also appeared on the big screen opposite Gerard Butler in "Chasing Mavericks". Peter Mel is a broadcaster for the World Surf League, continues to surf as an endorsed athlete and owns the family business, Freeline Surf Shop in Santa Cruz. Peter has conquered a dream of his being crowned the Big Wave World Champion 2011/2012. The Big Wave World Tour concluded its third successful season crowning Mel as Big Wave World Tour Champion. The season started out strong at the extremely consistent big wave spot Punta de Lobos, Chile, home of the Quiksilver Ceremonial. The contest was held under sunny skies, perfect offshore winds and flawless 40+ft waves. The second stop on the tour, Billabong Pico Alto Invitational, was held at the famed Peruvian Big Wave Spot, in clean and consistent 35–40 ft waves. Mel won the final. Immediately following his victory, fellow Quiksilver rider, Kelly Slater tweeted, ”It’s about time Pete.” Mel cemented his legacy as one of the best big wave surfers to come out of Santa Cruz long before he surfed at Pico Alto in Peru. "For obvious reasons, I'm very excited about it. Any time you throw a world title in front of anything, it's what it says. It's an achievement," said Mel, who accepted the award on April 29. "It's not something I thought I would achieve in my dreams." Following the end of the 2013 season, Peter Mel entered retirement from the pro surfing circuit, and, subsequently, becoming the World Surf League's (WSL) first Big Wave World Tour (BWWT) commissioner for the WSL's inaugural 2014-5 season. Peter has retired as commissioner of the WSL BWT to run his surf shop and compete again on the Big Wave Tour. ^[3]

Peter Mel is best known as a big wave surfer and son of John Mel. John Mel is Peter Mel's father. Peter named his son after his father who has now followed in both of their footsteps. Young John Mel is a four time National Champion himself. Peter has appeared in movies such as Step into Liquid, Riding Giants, Chasing Mavericks and Peaking, Peter Mel

References

External links

• https://www.imdb.com/PeterMel
• http://www.worldsurfleague.com/athletes/118/peter-mel