Peter Mel
Encyclopedia
Peter Mel, born November 24, 1969 in Santa Cruz, California
, is a professional surfer. 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. He idolized Schmidt for his casual demeanor on land and his bravery in larger surf. Like Schmidt, he would spend many winters in Hawaii, enjoying the less-restrictive conditions and developing his signature style, not to mention a taste for the big stuff (surf).
Throughout the ’90s, Mel found moderate success on the domestic and ASP World Tour Qualifying Series, before finally finding his niche during California’s El Nino winter of 1997-98. At the age of 29, when most pros are hanging up their jerseys and looking hard for careers in the surfing industry, Mel was really just coming into his own.
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 and established himself as California’s premier big-wave rider. Today, Peter Mel continues to shape and help run Freeline Surf Shop, the family business in Santa Cruz. As a shaper
, he sees new materials as being the wave of the future. “With shaping,” he admits, “there’s not much more you can do, but the materials are going to get far lighter and stronger.” He has also acknowledges the limitations of paddle-in surfing and jumped directly to the forefront of the tow-in frenzy during the end of the 90's. On October 28, 1999, at Mavericks
, he was towed into the biggest wave ever ridden on the West Coast. He still chases surf around the world, but chooses to spend most of his time focusing on his family and riding Mavericks, just an hour up the road. Mel lives on the East Side of Santa Cruz in the Pleasure Point area and is currently married with two children.
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, is a professional surfer. Mel began his surfing life in Capitola, California
Capitola, California
Capitola is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States, on the coast of Monterey Bay. The population was 9,918 at the 2010 census.-History:...
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
Steamer Lane
Steamer Lane is a famous surfing location in Santa Cruz, California. It is just off a point on the side of cliffs in the West Cliff residential area near downtown Santa Cruz, providing easy access and a good vantage point for viewing. The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum is housed in a lighthouse there....
locals Vince Collier, Kevin Reed and especially Richard Schmidt, Mel rose quickly through the line-up ranks with an unprecedented crop of young surfers. He idolized Schmidt for his casual demeanor on land and his bravery in larger surf. Like Schmidt, he would spend many winters in Hawaii, enjoying the less-restrictive conditions and developing his signature style, not to mention a taste for the big stuff (surf).
Throughout the ’90s, Mel found moderate success on the domestic and ASP World Tour Qualifying Series, before finally finding his niche during California’s El Nino winter of 1997-98. At the age of 29, when most pros are hanging up their jerseys and looking hard for careers in the surfing industry, Mel was really just coming into his own.
Shaper (surfboard)
A shaper is someone who builds and designs surfboards by hand. Originally made from wood, most modern surfboards are made from pre-formed polyurethane blanks or styrofoam and then fine shaped by the shaper using an array of tools ranging from surforms, rasps, sanding machines and power planers...
, he sees new materials as being the wave of the future. “With shaping,” he admits, “there’s not much more you can do, but the materials are going to get far lighter and stronger.” He has also acknowledges the limitations of paddle-in surfing and jumped directly to the forefront of the tow-in frenzy during the end of the 90's. On October 28, 1999, at Mavericks
Mavericks (location)
Maverick's or Mavericks is a surfing location in Northern California, U.S.A.. It is located approximately 2 miles from shore in Pillar Point Harbor just north of Half Moon Bay at the village of Princeton-By-The-Sea. After a strong winter storm in the northern Pacific Ocean, waves can routinely...
, he was towed into the biggest wave ever ridden on the West Coast. He still chases surf around the world, but chooses to spend most of his time focusing on his family and riding Mavericks, just an hour up the road. Mel lives on the East Side of Santa Cruz in the Pleasure Point area and is currently married with two children.