Peter Mel

Back in the late ‘80s, there was a classic TV commercial running a lot about the anti-balding Hair Club for Men product. The big reveal at the end? The owner goes: “I’m not just the president of Hair Club for Men…I’m a client!” And in an odd way, this reminds us of Santa Cruz, California’s finest: Peter Mel. For some years, Peter Mel was not only the Commissioner of the WSL Big Wave World Tour…he was also a former BWWT world champion, Maverick’s event champion, “The Kill” Generation super-star…the list goes on. But clearly, at his core, Peter Mel is a big-wave fanatic and modern icon. In one of Jamie Mitchell’s all-time favorite episodes of the Late Drop, he and the Condor (because his wingspan) chat for a solid 95 minutes. Enjoy!

0:00: Growing up in Santa Cruz, California, Working in the Freeline Shop, Shaper father, Raising your children in gnarly surf

11:44: Getting into competitive surfing as a teen, First trip to Hawaii, Surfing Sunset Beach and getting the big wave bug, Respecting the SC elders, Becoming a pro surfer, The Kill generation

23:44: Learning from Sunset Beach, Starting to surf Maverick’s, Peter and Flea pushing each other at Mav’s, Partying

38:15: Quik’s Men Who Ride Mountains event at Mav’s, Flea’s reign at Maverick’s events, Towing giant Mav’s

49:22: Competing on QS, Becoming a legit “big wave surfer,” Eddie contests, Step Into Liquid film

100:36: First time at Cortes Bank, Start of the Big Wave World Tour, Gary Linden’s first events, Winning BWWT world title in 2012

1:08:55: Winning Maverick’s in 2013, Getting boards and fit for the season, Pros/Cons of the inflation vests, Billy Kemper’s dedication

1:19:25: Becoming BWWT commissioner in 2014, Writing the WSL Rule Book, Current state/future of big wave surfing, Resurgence of tow surfing

1:31:22: Pete’s 5-to-Finish Questions