Surfersvillage Global Surf News :When Peter Mel went surfing for the first time, it wasn’t an auspicious debut. At the age of 6, the future pro surfer went to the beach with his father, who ran a surf manufacturing company. With his dad’s encouragement, Mel sailed forward into a wave — and ended up capsized and tangled in kelp. At that moment, Mel said, he vowed never to go surfing again.

 
In the last three decades, however, Mel has changed. So, for that matter, has surfing. “You guys are lucky,” he told a group of students on Tuesday at the Ocean Adventures camp, a nine-week summer camp that teaches the principles of catching a wave. “They didn’t have surf camps when I was growing up.”For the last 20 years, Erik Nelsen, a surf camp operator for Quiksilver, has run the Ocean Adventures program in Newport Beach. During the summer, boys and girls ages 6 to 14 put on wet suits and learn the essentials of surfing. Along the way, they attend lectures on waves, water safety and other aspects of the sea — sometimes from the best sources in the world.

On Tuesday, four dozen kids gathered at the shore to listen to Mel, a Santa Cruz resident and pioneer of big-wave surfing who has been featured in “Step Into Liquid” and other surfing documentaries. Backed by a roaring tide that forced him to project loudly, Mel told stories about his early days of surfing and his adventures to Hawaii, South Africa, Scotland and other destinations around the globe.

“One of the things surfing has given me is the opportunity to travel the world,” said Mel, 36. “To find big waves, you’ve got to travel.” At one point, a student asked if Mel had ever encountered a great white shark. The surfer replies that yes, he had — but only in a fish tank, not the ocean.

Shortly afterward, the student surfers took to the waves again. Nelsen — whose father, Jeff Nelsen, runs a marine science class during the summer in Newport Beach — includes two different camps in his summer program. One, the Roxy Surf Camp, is strictly for girls, while the other, sponsored by Quiksilver, is coed.

Many of the young surfers in this year’s camp had been on the waves for years, but a few were new recruits. Cousins Allison and Emily White tried surfing for the first time on Monday, and did pretty well … at least better than Mel did his first time. “It’s sort of frightening, because I don’t like big waves, but it’s fun standing up for the first time,” said Emily, 9, of Laguna Niguel.

Added Allison, 10, of Aliso Viejo: “The first time I stood up, it was fun. I thought, ‘I’m doing it! I’m doing it!’” 

Michael Miller
Source: The Daily Pilot ]]> http://petermel.com/petes_world/?feed=rss2&p=113 http://petermel.com/petes_world/?p=109 http://petermel.com/petes_world/?p=109#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:40:18 +0000 admin http://petermel.com/petes_world/?p=109 The Quiksilver Foundation aids the earth’s communities  

The Quiksilver Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to benefiting and enhancing the quality of life for communities of boardriders across the world by supporting environmental, educational, health and youth-related projects. With offices in Europe, Australia and America, Quiksilver has the capability of touching people worldwide. Quiksilver has the vision of making a difference to community and environment through the Quiksilver Foundation.

Respect for the environment is becoming an important issue of everyday life.

Be it at the beach, in the mountains, or even in the streets, we owe it to ourselves to respect and carefully preserve that environment in which we live. Since 1999, Quiksilver Initiative, environment department of Quiksilver Europe, has been working on this : eco-design and environmental management, events to help raise awareness and partnership with several associations.

Since 2004, Quiksilver Foundation has enlarged our action field. With offices in Europe, Australia and America, Quiksilver has the capability of touching people worldwide. Quiksilver has the vision of making a difference to community and environment through the Quiksilver Foundation.

Coeur de Forêt

The “Cœur de Forêt”  (Forest Heart) association, has been setting up a global structure since its debuts in 2001, that plants trees and creates value from its fruits through fair trade commerce clusters. The target is to provide alternative financial incomes for the forests inhabitants by raising their traditional know-how in order to make a live tree more valuable than a cut tree.

Every project develops through the following:
1. Every planted tree will spend its first year in a nursery
2. It is then replanted in an area of in need communities (Brazil’s and Guyana’s Amazon, and Madagascar)
3. The community receives revenue for the plantation and production of fruit, nuts and oils of which it becomes the owner.

Those projects’ support comes from members of the public and corporate businesses adopting trees. Every tree adoption contributes both to re-forest some of earth’s most beautiful forests and the setup of fair trade clusters raising the value of the produce of those trees such as vegetable oil and essential oils.

Katiet children : photo courtesy Quiksilver Foundation

Quiksilver SurfAid Community Health Training Centre

Humanitarian aid organization SurfAid International has opened the first stage of the Quiksilver SurfAid Community Health Training Centre at Katiet, in the Mentawai Islands, off Indonesia’s West Sumatran coast.

Mentawai Vice-Head Yudas Sabaggalet, Quiksilver’s Bruce Raymond and SurfAid’s Dr Dave Jenkins officially open the Community Health Training Centre. The centre, which has been funded by the Quiksilver Foundation, has been designed by leading organic agriculturalist, Brendan Hoare.

In the worst Mentawai villages, up to 50 per cent of children will die from causes including acute respiratory infection, diarrhea, bad or unclean birthing and malaria. Underlying this, SurfAid research shows that up to 40 per cent of Mentawai children are malnourished and 60 per cent of mothers and children are anemic. The centre aims to help correct this situation.

SurfAid Founder and CEO, Dr. Dave Jenkins, said the opening of the centre was the culmination of a long and successful partnership with Quiksilver. “The Quiksilver Foundation has been supporting SurfAid’s relentless pursuit of cost effective results that create lasting change and break the cycle of poor health and health behaviors that have been part of Mentawai life for up to 5000 years,” he said.

“Quiksilver understands the need for real grassroots action and the centre provides a place for best practice and for training staff to take that practice far beyond Katiet and the Mentawai,” he said. “Our staff will teach the mums how to more efficiently grow highly nutritious food for themselves and their children. This is cutting edge, grassroots community development at the very edge of the planet.”

Peter Mel & Tom Carroll in ‘Movember’: photo Joli    
Movember - Changing the face of Men’s Health 

Movember (the month formerly known as November) is a charity event held during November each year. At the start of Movember guys register with a clean-shaven face. The Movember participants known as Mo Bro’s then have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their Mo (Australian slang for moustache) and along the way raise as much money and awareness about Prostate Cancer.

While growing a Mo (moustache) is left to the guys, Mo Sista’s (ladies who support their guys or love Mo’s!) form an important part of Movember by recruiting Mo Bros, helping to raise funds and attending the highly anticipated Gala Parties.

But it’s not all fun and games, so why the extreme behavior? Whichever way we look at it, men are far less healthy than women. The average life expectancy for men is many years less than females; up to seven years less! Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in the U.S.A with one in six American men developing the disease and 27,000 men dying of the disease every year.

Movember culminates at the end of the month at the Gala Parties. We had a great end of Movember Party at Quiksilver headquarters in Huntington Beach for our employees. Bob McKnight Quiksilver CEO, who also grew a moustache, thanked the Quiksilver Team aptly named team Mo Daddy (after Quiksilver driver/sit-down comedian).

The team consisted of 112 Mo Bro’s and Sista’s; executives, employees and sponsored athletes such as Kelly Slater and Peter Mel alike. Team Mo Daddy raised $48,000 in America making Team Mo Daddy the number 1 team in the USA!!! Go Team!! It was truly a global initiative with Quiksilver Australia having a team of 45 and raising $13,300 (USD) and Quiksilver Europe with a team of 28 raising $4,400 (USD), so globally we raised over $65,000! That is not including DC who also raised close to $50,000.

Our very own Brian Kearns was named the Man of Movember at the LA gala party! We also held our own awards at Quiksilver HQ, giving away a snowboard for the best Mo, a Tony Hawk autographed skate deck for the Lamo (worst Mo) as well as awards for team members that raised the most money. Andrew Akiyoshi raised close to $12,000 alone!! Well-done Andrew!!

Movember is very proud to be teaming with the Prostate Cancer Foundation [www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/ ] in the USA. For more information on Movember and to check out some great photo’s from the gala parties go to movember.com 

Bob McKnight in ‘Movember’  : photo Joli 

Open letter from Bob McKnight

For years, Quiksilver has been actively engaged in charitable activities, both locally and globally. Quiksilver recognizes the concept of corporate social responsibility and benevolence. We want our philanthropic work to have impact beyond what we do as one company and believe that we can do this by coordinating the support of other organizations and individuals. The Quiksilver Foundation was formed to bring all of Quiksilver’s charitable giving under one umbrella. The Foundation commenced activities as a 501(c)(3) private foundation in October of 2004.

Our Mission
The Quiksilver Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to benefiting and enhancing the quality of life for communities of boardriders across the world by supporting environmental, educational, health and youth-related projects.

Our Vision
With offices in Europe, Australia and America, Quiksilver has the capability of touching people worldwide. Quiksilver has the vision of making a difference to community and environment through the Quiksilver Foundation. The Quiksilver Foundation has a commitment to improving the quality of all our lives. 

We desire to benefit:
Local Communities, including schools, churches and local charities through support and outreach programs; Major special projects and organizations sharing our focus on children, education, science, oceans and the environment.
 
For nearly three decades, Quiksilver has been a leader in providing charitable support that has enabled boardriders’ communities around the world to benefit education, the environment, scientific research and a variety of related causes.

Today, the Quiksilver Foundation has been formed to continue the charitable endeavors of the company throughout the world. From its office at Quiksilver’s Headquarters in Huntington Beach, California, the Quiksilver Foundation is in coordination with the company’s global offices in Asia, Australia, Europe and across the world.

Through sharing a wide range of resources, the Quiksilver Foundation can enable community-based organizations with charitable support, research and science innovation. The Quiksilver Foundation recognizes that our communities and their environments have provided great benefits for boardriders across the globe; it is their desire to preserve and continue this benevolence for this generation and those to follow.  
  
The Quiksilver Foundation has a broad mission, or in other words, big dreams. Most foundations have only one aim or goal, however at Quiksilver we are a company that surf, skates, skis and boards, so you are going to find us in the ocean, on the mountain and in the streets. That is why our mission is broad, because we are an international company that works in every environment and as such we hold ourselves responsible guardians for them.

With just four years under our belt the Foundation has been very busy and was key to relief efforts after the Tsunami in Asia and Hurricane Katrina.

By supporting groups such as SurfAid International and The Sumba Foundation we are giving people in underprivileged countries a hand up not a hand out. These foundations are creating sustainable futures for many islands in Indonesia by building schools, wells, roads and educating the people about malaria prevention, proper nutrition and sanitary practices.

We foster youth initiatives to build the future of our sport as well as our community, country and world. QuikSCience in collaboration with USC and The Wrigley Ocean Institute continues to grow and encourage science education in our schools and inspire future generations of scientists.

The Crossing visiting the West Coast of the United States was a perfect forum for us to show the work we do with Reef Check, by providing berths for marine biologists in order for them to monitor the worlds oceans and reefs. We also hosted a fundraising event at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, introducing the Southern Californian community to the Quiksilver Foundation and raising money for the Quiksilver Foundation and the Ocean Institute.

The support of health related charities such as Keep A Breast through our Roxy brand has also been a huge success, raising over $100,000 for breast cancer research.

All of the work of the Foundation could not happen without the support of our employees who have joined teams to walk or run to raise money and awareness for other foundations such as The Children’s Hospital of Orange County and The Susan G Komen Race for a Cure. They gave generously during the Tsunami disaster and for Hurricane Katrina relief, as well as for local initiatives during the holidays by donating gifts for The Make A Wish Foundation and The Someone Cares Soup Kitchen.

These are all only a small amount of the charities that we support. Quiksilver Australia and Europe both have local initiatives and in 2008 we look forward to growing these programs and creating more global initiatives.

Sincerely,

Robert McKnight
Chairman/CEO
Quiksilver Inc.

Lisa Andersen for Keep A Breast : photo Quiksilver Foundation

Francais

“The Quiksilver Foundation »  vous adresse tous ses voeux pour cette nouvelle année 2008.

En décembre 2007 , Quiksilver Foundation Europe , a établi un partnariat avec l’association « Cœur de Forêt ». Ainsi , joint aux vœux de fin d’année  de la Foundation, un certificat d’adoption d’arbre avec son point gps , a été envoyé à un grand nombre de destinataires  (partenaires et employés).

A cette occasion, nous avons le plaisir de vous faire parvenir un certificat de parrainage d’un arbre. Vous y trouverez indiqué la position GPS du terrain sur lequel il sera planté.

L’association « Cœur de Forêt » met en place une démarche globale, allant de la plantation d’arbres à la valorisation de leurs fruits au travers des filières de commerce équitable. L’objectif est de donner des alternatives financières aux Habitants de la Forêt en valorisant leur savoir-faire traditionnels et de rendre un arbre vivant plus intéressant financièrement qu’un arbre coupé. 

Chaque projet se déroule de la façon suivante :
1. Le plant d’arbre parrainé est cultivé en pépinière durant l’année en cours
2. Il est ensuite replanté sur un terrain par les membres d’une communauté défavorisée (Amazonie Brésilienne, Amazonie Guyanaise et Madagascar)
3. La communauté bénéficie d’un revenu pour la plantation et l’exploitation des fruits, graines, huiles obtenus dont elle devient propriétaire. 

 Ces projets sont soutenus grâce à l’adoption d’arbres par des particuliers et des entreprises. Chaque adoption d’arbre contribue, à la fois, au reboisement des plus belles forêts de la Terre et également à la mise en place des filières de commerce équitable valorisant les fruits des arbres adoptés: huiles végétales et huiles essentielles (www.coeurdeforet.com).

Le respect de l’environnement devient chaque jour une préoccupation plus importante.

Notamment lorsque cela affecte nos terrains de jeu. A la plage, à la montagne ou encore en ville, notre devoir est de respecter et préserver l’environnement dans lequel nous vivons. Depuis 1999, Quiksilver Initiative, pôle environnement de Quiksilver Europe, œuvre en ce sens notamment à travers l’éco-conception et le management environnemental, l’organisation d’événements de sensibilisation et des partenariats avec de nombreuses associations.

Depuis 2004, la fondation Quiksilver a étendu le rayon d’action. Nos bureaux en Europe, en Australie et en Amérique nous permettent de toucher les populations du monde entier. Quiksilver a pour ambition de changer les choses pour notre société et notre environnement à travers « Quiksilver Foundation ».

www.movember.com.
www.coeurdeforet.com
www.quiksilver-foundation.eu

Surfrider Foundation, SAS, Surf-Aid, Reef Check, 
    Coeur de Foret, Mountain Rider, Eurosima
         Supported by Quiksilver Foundation 

Highlights:
Every session in big waves is a highlight.fourth place Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational 2000, fourth place Quiksilver Mavericks Men Who Ride Mountains event 2000. 4th Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational 2004

Peter Mel came down to Cape Town a few years ago with Ross Clarke-Jones, Gary Kong Elkerton and Tommy Carrol to name a few, and liked what he saw. The ruggedness and fierce Cape Town waves were to his liking, and he expressed an interest in returning.
Mel, who grew up surfing Steamer Lane along with the likes of Vince Collier and big wave maestro Richard Schmidt, has been well recognised for the good part of a decade now as one of the world’s best big wave surfers. He evolved from a professional surfer chasing points to a big wave charger in the winter of ’97 – ’98, when he was winning the K2 Big Wave Challenge for paddling into the biggest wave, but was pipped at the post. Not fazed, Mel saw his popularity and fame spread widely, and was soon in the top 10 in the Surfer Magazine Reader Poll. After this he went on to compete in both the Waimea and Mavs events, earning those afore-mentioned places.
Mel is a surfboard shaper by trade, and the family business is the Freeline Design Surf Shop, which he helps to run. When it comes to big waves, he loves to compete. He is currently invited to surf in the Red Bull Big Wave Africa, the Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational in honour of Eddie Aikau, the Mavericks Big Wave Contest, the Jaws Tow-in contest, the Nelscott Reff Big Wave Contest and the El Gigante Puerto Escondido.  And let’s not forget the movies. Mel has alwso been featured in the movies Step Into Liquid and Riding Giants. So all in all not a bad resumé.
Mel is also an environmentally-aware surfer and does his bit to keep the oceans clean, something that he is doing his best to teach the next generation of surfers. Both globally and locally, he is teaching other how surfers can look after the environment.

This will be the first time that Mel gets a slot in to the Red Bull Big Wave Africa, and for an accomplished big wave surfer this must be a great yet challenging situation. Most surfers who have no experience out at Dungeons have great difficulty in reading the waves, with the shifting line-up, tricky outside sets and the ridiculously steep take-offs. It normally takes a good few sessions and events to start getting a feel for the wave. Mel will have to step up to the plate pretty quickly. His reputation says that he will, but will Dungeons allow him in? As a pioneer of Cortes I’m sure he’ll be up for it.

Eddie Aikau

Huntington Beach, California, November 3, 2008 — Quiksilver is pleased to announce the 2008/2009 Invitees and Alternates for The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau and the official launch of the event website at Quiksilver.com/eddie. 

Scheduled to take place at the hallowed grounds of Waimea Bay, on the North Shore of Oahu, between December 1, 2008, and February 28, 2009, the event, otherwise known as “The Eddie”, requires one day with a minimum of 20-foot surf (Hawaiian scale) in order to run. It is the world’s most prestigious big-wave surfing event and is the only big-wave surf contest sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP), the governing body of professional surfing. 

Held in honor of the legendary Hawaiian waterman, Eddie Aikau, the The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau gathers 28 of the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the world as polled by a comprehensive panel consisting of influential watermen, members of the surf industry, and internationally recognized surfing Associations. 

The first memorial event for Aikau was held in 1984 at Sunset Beach, two miles north of Waimea Bay. It was won by local standout Denton Miyamura. Following the inaugural event, The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau moved to Waimea Bay, where it has remained ever since. 2008 marks the event’s 24th anniversary; in only seven of those years have the waves been big enough and the conditions right to hold the contest. 

In the realm of big-wave riding, the name Eddie Aikau commands as much respect as Waimea Bay itself. Aikau was the North Shore of Oahu’s first lifeguard, watching over the Bay when he wasn’t charging the biggest waves of the winter. Tragically, he lost his life in 1978, at the age of 33, during a re-creation of the Polynesian voyage between Hawaii and Tahiti. In huge seas, the voyaging canoe Hokule’a was capsized. Eddie paddled off in an attempt to reach help for his fellow crewmen. He was never seen again but his spirit and legacy live on. 

The complete list of Invitees and Alternates for this year’s event are listed below and available online at www.quiksilver.com/eddie. The website also includes photos and video from previous year’s events, Invitee profiles and swell updates. Visitors can sign up to receive text updates for the “Official Contest Call” and watch online when the Bay calls the day. 

Collectible limited-edition The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau merchandise, including boardshorts, t-shirts, hats, sandals and backpack, are also available online at www.quiksilver.com/eddie and in Quiksilver stores. 

INVITEES: (first name alpha. order) 
1. Andy Irons (Hawaii) 
2. Brian Keaulana (Hawai)
3. Brock Little (Hawaii) 
4. Bruce Irons (Hawaii) 
5. Carlos Burle (Brazil) 
6. Clyde Aikau (Hawaii)
7. Darryl Virostko (California)
8. Grant “Twiggy” Baker (South Africa) 
9. Greg Long (California) 
10. Ian Walsh (Hawaii) 
11. Ibon Amatriain (Spain) 
12. Jamie O’Brien (Hawaii) 
13. Jamie Sterling (Hawaii) 
14. Kelly Slater (Florida) 
15. Keone Downing (Hawaii)
16. Makua Rothman (Hawaii)
17. Mark Healey (Hawaii) 
18. Michael Ho (Hawaii) 
19. Noah Johnson (Hawaii) 
20. Peter Mel (California)
21. Ramon Navarro (Chili) 
22. Ross Clarke-Jones (Australia) 
23. Rusty Keaulana (Hawaii) 
24. Shane Dorian (Hawaii) 
25. Sunny Garcia (Hawaii) 
26. Takayuki Wakita (Japan) 
27. Tom Carroll (Australia) 
28. Titus Kinimaka (Hawaii) 

ALTERNATES: 
1. Kala Alexander (Hawaii) Aikau Pick 
2. Garrett McNamara (Hawaii) 
3. Darrick Doerner (Hawaii) 
4. Reef McIntosh (Hawaii) 
5. Tony Ray (Australia) 
6. Anthony Tashnick (California) 
7. Paul Patterson (Australia) 
8. Nathan Fletcher (California) 
9. Kalani Chapman (Hawaii) 
10. Dave Wassel (Hawaii) 
11. Taylor Knox (California) 
12. Evan Slater (California) 
13. Pancho Sullivan (Hawaii) 
14. Derek Ho (Hawaii) 
15. Danny Fuller (Hawaii) 
16. Chava Greenlee (Hawaii) 
17. Keoni Watson (Hawaii) 
18. Manoa Drollet (Tahiti) 
19. Myles Padaca (Hawaii) 
20. Tony Moniz (Hawaii) 
21. Ross Williams (Hawaii) 
22. Ken “Skindog” Collins (California) 
23. Koby Abberton (Australia) 
24. Laurie Towner (Australia) 

HONORARY INVITEES: 
Mark Foo (Hawaii) 
Todd Chesser (Hawaii) 
Tiger Espere (Hawaii) 
Jay Moriarty (California) 
Peter Davi (California) 

About Quiksilver 
“Quiksilver is committed to providing tools for uncovering, expressing and expanding your personal style. Our aim is to foster the sense of individual expression and excitement - the stoke that is the essence of boardriding*. We’re also here to spread the word because the only thing better than finding stoke is sharing it. 

* Boardriding is about timing and style. It’s youthful, active, casual, and free flowing. There is no wrong way to ride a board. The goal is simply to learn, progress, improve, and give it your own interpretation.”

Surfers

Pacific Storm Kicks Them Up; One Surfer Dies; Others Lucky To Have Survived

(CBS) There’s a famous spot off Northern California’s Half Moon Bay called Maverick’s, where some of the world’s best surfers ride waves that often get as high as 50 feet.

But a Pacific storm last week created 80-foot waves there. Even many of the world’s most accomplished surfers thought the mega-waves were too dangerous. But some brave — or is that crazy?! — souls saw them as a challenge!

One high-profile surfer, Peter Davi, died in the monster waves, further down the coast.

At Maverick’s, some suffered epic wipeouts and are lucky to be alive — including surfing legends Peter Mel and Darryl “Flea” Virostko, who described the experience on The Early Show Friday, along with star surfer-turned-videographer, Grant Washburn. He had his cameras rolling as Mel and Virostko did their thing — big-time.

One of “Flea’s” wipeouts was– to longtime surf watchers– among the worst they had ever seen.

Washburn acknowledges it was like watching a train wreck: You wanted to turn away, but you just couldn’t avert your eyes — as the surfers got swallowed up by gargantuan waves. But he rushed to help Virostko when Virostko wiped out.

Mel and Virostko say they don’t see themselves as reckless thrill-seekers. They say they took as many precautions as possible, wearing life vests, using personal watercraft, and having partners looking out for them.

But both admit they feel darned lucky to have lived to tell about their tussle with the almost unprecedented waves.

“You make a little mistake, and you pay for it (by wiping out),” Mel told co-anchor Julie Chen. “It was pretty scary, but it was good to be a part of it, and survive it, really.”

Mel admits, “We’ve probably got a screw loose here and there” to battle such conditions, “but we play if pretty safe. We take a cautious approach.”

For much more on this, head to www.maverickssurf.com and www.grantwashburn.com.

Daily News
The Santa Cruz Surfing Legend Sits Down with Lat34

Peter Mel is one of those rare double entendres who dominates not just the small surf, but the big waves as well.  To complete the trifecta, he’s also starting to become a regular on the webcast commentary scene, recently completing the double play as both a competitor and the primary webcast commentator for the Jeep Body Glove Surfbout contest held at Lower Trestles.

Yet the reputation of Peter Mel goes beyond just watching him surf and listening to him analyze your favorite surf contest online.  Mel is looked up to by a vast amount of younger surfers, who consider Peter their mentor for the wisdom and guidance he provides to the groms and even slightly older surfers.

Peter Mel Interviewed by Jon Rose…

Peter Mel is one of the biggest names to come out of Surf City, USA (no offense Huntington, but this writer has his NorCal bias) aka Santa Cruz, California.  It’s no surprise then that the most prestigious surf apparel company, Quiksilver, selected Mel years ago to be their lone Santa Cruz team rider.

And in-between catching waves, commentating online, and helping run the Feeline Design Surf Shop in Santa Cruz (which his dad  John opened 37 years ago), Peter is a devout family man who takes tremendously good care of his wife and two kids.  It’s no wonder younger surfers look up to the highly versatile surfer who’s a regular favorite to win the Mavericks Surf Contest.

Meet Peter Mel, one of the top surfers in the world, as we caught up with him at Lat34.

Lat34: You’re considered one of the most versatile riders in surfing.  One minute you’re surfing in standard contests like the Jeep Body Glove Surfbout, and next minute you’re a favorite heading into the Mavericks Surf Contest.  What do you attribute to your versatility?

Mel: I think Santa Cruz breeds it.  Most of the surfers from this area can do it all.  From the little stuff all the way to the big stuff, just because of the way Santa Cruz has surf, and the variety of spots, breeds it.  It’s all within 45 minutes, and we get to taste it all.

Lat34: Have you tried Ghost Trees yet?

Mel: I have.  I was one of the few pioneers.  Me and Adam Replogle were one of the first guys to go down in that area and do some of the tow-in.  When you use that tow-surfing thing, the other aspect of it is being able to go to spots that you really wouldn’t go to paddling, just because of the way the waves and the breaks are.

So we were one of the first to go down there and taste it.  Sure enough here it is, known now as one of the world’s renown (big wave) spots.  It’s a gnarly wave.  There’s a lot of rocks, and that’s one of those spots that rarely gets paddled, although guys have done it.  (That day) it was more of a good tow-wave, and sure enough it holds its size.  It’s definitely one of the spots on the planet now that’s known for big waves.

Lat34: When I last spoke to Anthony Tashnick (2005 Mavericks Surf Contest Champion), he did nothing but give you praise for helping him out and mentoring him.  A lot of other pro surfers I know have shared similar sentiments about you.  What motivates you to help these young surfers so much?

Mel: I’m a dad, so right away that’s part of it.  I’ve always helped out young kids, and it’s just because I was mentored by people as well in my neck of the woods.  Vince Collier was a part of it, and Richard Schmidt especially were guys that mentored me.

I went to Hawaii when I was 14, and I had Mark Machado and guys who were older that were able to mentor me and teach me the ropes.  Teach me how to travel, how to act, how to surf big waves, how to just be an overall, all-around good person.  I take that as something that I have to do for the younger generation.  I think that it just works.  It helps to breed good surfers and breed good people.

Lat34: You did really well on the WQS tour back in the day.  You’ve started doing competitions again.  Are you going to go for it again?  Are you going to do more of the tour this year?  What’s next for Pete Mel?

Mel: More or less, I’m doing it because I enjoy competing.  Competing has always been a challenge for me.  I’ve done ok on the tour, but never made it.  I’m not aspiring to get back on tour or doing that whole thing at 37.  I’m a family guy, I can’t necessarily be leaving the family and traveling all year-round.

I’m doing it because I love competing, and there’s a lot of events we can do now.  Also I can double dip in a sense, because I can go and compete as well as do the webcast.  I get to watch all the aspiring young guys coming up, get to watch the surfing, and I still want to compete.  It’s just in my blood, I love it, and I don’t really want to stop.  So I get to do both.

Lat34: 37, that’s the new 17.

Mel: (Laughing) You know, that’s funny.  I’m getting up in age.  With big wave surfing, I don’t think that really matters.  I’m physically as fit as I’ve been in my whole career.  I don’t have any big injuries, thank goodness.  Knock on wood (laughing).

We don’t get to surf big waves everyday.  You can’t just go down to your local beach and practice surfing 30-foot waves.  This year especially is a prime example of a year that wasn’t that great for big surf here in the Pacific.  We only had three or four days where we actually got to paddle Mavericks this year.  We didn’t have the event, so it was kind of a bummer.

With age, you get to pack those sessions in, and have that wisdom.  I’ve had 15 to 20 years of big wave surfing (experience), which is probably 40 sessions, maybe 50 sessions total that I got to do.  Like I said, I’m as physically fit as I’ve been in a long time, so I want to keep competing in the big wave stuff, and I’m staying focused with my surfing, by surfing in these other events, as well as watching and learning.

The funniest thing about age is that we’re still so young in our minds.  I don’t care what you say, I’m still thinking like I’m an 18 year-old.

Lat34: You mentioned the webcast commentating, which you just did with the Jeep Body Glove competition.  You’ve been webcast commentating for a while now.

Mel: I’m doing stuff primarily for the WQS and locally.  I did the Cold Water (Classic at Steamer’s Lane in Santa Cruz), and I’ve done local events down south.  I’m waiting for the WCT run.  I think I could do a good job at it, as long as they give me the opportunity.

Lat34: You’re a Quiksilver rider, which carries a lot of prestige.

Mel: Yeah, they take care of their folk.  They’ve got a solid foundation, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

- Cyrus Saatsa