Peter Mel Explained

Peter Mel
Birth Date:24 November 1969
Birth Place:Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
Spouse:Tara Mel
Children:1
Module:
Child:yes
Residence:Santa Cruz, California
Weight:200lb
Years Active:1975 - present
Sponsors:Quiksilver
Freeline
Major Achievements:-(1997)1st O'neill Cold Water Classic, (Santa Cruz, California)
-(2011)1st Billabong Pico Alto Copa Burn
-1st place, Crowned Big Wave World Tour Champion 2011/2012
-1st place, Mavericks Invitational 2012/2013 (Half Moon Bay, California)
Stance:Regular (natural) foot
Shapers:Self (Peter Mel) Al Merrick (Channel Islands Surfboards), John Carper (JC Surfboards), Stretch Surfboards and Freeline Surfboards (John Mel)
Quiver:5'10", 6'1", 6'4", 6'6" & 10"2

Peter Mel (born November 24, 1969, in Santa Cruz, California), is an American professional surfer. Mel began his surfing life in Capitola, California before moving on to Santa Cruz. He is known as a 'big wave' surfer and son of John Mel, a four time surfing National Champion.[1]

Career

Throughout the 1990s, Mel participated on the World Surf League domestic and Qualifying Series,[2] before finally finding his niche of big-wave surfing during California’s El Nino winter of 1997–1998.[3] The Big Wave World Tour concluded its third successful season crowning Mel as Big Wave World Tour Champion winning the Billabong Pico Alto Invitational.

Mel appeared in the movies Step into Liquid, Riding Giants, Chasing Mavericks and Peaking, Peter Mel. Mel has appeared opposite Gerard Butler in Chasing Mavericks. Mel is a broadcaster for the World Surf League. He finished eighth in the 1998 Surfer Magazine Reader’s Poll Awards.[4]

In 2018, Mel participated in an interview with a surfing periodical with journalist Shelby Stanger to discuss personal issues he fought with and overcame.[5] In the interview Mel discusses how he prepares for big wave riding, family, and personal demons. Mel also appeared with Laird Hamilton to discuss balancing life as an athlete and family.

Contest wins

!Year!Place!Contest
19971stO'Neill Cold Water Classic, Santa Cruz, California[6]
20111stBillabong Pico Alto Copa Burn[7]
20121stBig Wave World Tour[8]
20131stMavericks Invitational[9]

Retirement

Following the end of the 2013 season, 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 2014–2015 season. Mel retired as commissioner of the WSL BWWT in 2014 to run his surf shop and compete again on the Big Wave Tour.[10]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: John Mel, a Patriarch of Santa Cruz Surfing, Gets His Due. 2020-08-02. Surfline.com.
  2. Web site: Pro Surfer: Peter Mel. 2020-08-02. World Surf League. en.
  3. News: Peter Mel Employs All Aspects of Surfing to Win the RB5X. 2003-06-23. Surfing Magazine. 2009-07-05.
  4. Surfer Magazine November 1998
  5. Web site: Peter Mel Opens Up About Sobriety, Fear, Failure, and Finding Balance in Life. Stanger. Shelby. The Inertia. September 20, 2018 . en-US. 2018-12-14.
  6. Web site: Nat Young Leads Local Contingent On Day Four Of O'Neill Cold Water Classic. 2008-10-25. Adventure Sports Network. en-US. 2018-12-27.
  7. Web site: PETER MEL WINS BILLABONG PICO ALTO. Surfline.com. 2018-12-27.
  8. Web site: Peter Mel Claims Big Wave World Title. Green. Marvin. The Inertia. April 7, 2012 . en-US. 2018-12-27.
  9. Web site: Peter Mel wins the Mavericks Invitational 2012-2013. SurferToday.com. SurferToday. en-us. 2018-12-27.
  10. Web site: Logie. Travis. 2014-11-15. Logie Talks Retirement with Mel. 2015-03-06. worldsurfleague.com.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Peter Mel".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.