Peter Mel was born and raised along the stunning coastline of Santa Cruz, California, where he grew up in the city's vibrant surf community. His family's surf shop, established in 1969 by his father, John Mel, played a significant role in his development as a talented surfer. As he honed his skills, Peter quickly became well-known in his hometown and around the world for his exceptional prowess in big wave surfing, tackling waves with faces of over 50 feet, characterized by his signature sweeping turns and humble demeanor.
By 1998, Peter had established himself as a premier big wave rider, earning the respect of his peers and being voted the eighth best surfer in the world at the Surfer Poll Awards. Ten days after the birth of his son, Peter rode the biggest wave ever ridden on the West Coast at the time, a feat that some consider one of the largest waves ever ridden anywhere. He further solidified his reputation in 2001 by participating in the inaugural mission to Cortes Bank, where he won the first XXL Challenge with a winning wave.
Peter's straightforward charm and candor were instrumental in fueling a secondary career as an online personality, hosting ASP web-casts. He not only competed in the 2009 Big Wave Quiksilver Eddie Aikau event at Waimea Bay in Hawaii but also provided commentary for much of the day. After years of chasing big wave swells and competing on the Big Wave World Tour, Peter was crowned Big Wave World Champion in 2012 and Mavericks Invitational Champion in 2012/2013.
In addition to his surfing career, Peter is also a voiceover personality for Mattel Inc and has appeared in big-screen documentaries such as "Step Into Liquid" from Dana Brown and Stacy Peralta's "Riding Giants". He was cast in the feature film "_Chasing Mavericks (2012)_", directed by Michael Apted and Curtis Hanson, acting alongside Gerard Butler as friends who challenge the treacherous break of Northern California. Not only can Peter act, but he also does his own stunt work in this action-filled movie.
Peter is an endorsed Athlete by the surfing empire Quiksilver and Broadcaster for the 'World Surf League'. With his talent, well-spoken composure, and multifaceted career, it's exciting to see Peter's career continue to flourish and flow in many directions!
