{{Short description|American surfer (born 1969)}} {{BLP sources|date=December 2018}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Peter Mel | image = Peter Mel on RealTVfilms.jpg | caption = Mel in 2012 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|11|24}} | birth_place = Santa Cruz, California, U.S. | spouse = Tara Mel | children = 2 | module = {{infobox surfer | child = yes | height = {{height|ft=6|in=3}} | weight = {{convert|200|lb|kg|abbr=on}} | years_active = 1975&ndash;present | sponsors = Darcsport <br /> Freeline | major_achievements = -(1997)1st O'neill Cold Water Classic, (Santa Cruz, California)<br />-(2011)1st Billabong Pico Alto Copa Burn<br />-1st place, Crowned Big Wave World Tour Champion 2011/2012<br />-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 | favorite_waves = | website = {{URL|http://www.petermel.com}} }}}} '''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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=John Mel, a Patriarch of Santa Cruz Surfing, Gets His Due|url=http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/approaching-their-fifth-decade-in-business-freeline-designs-to-be-honored-at-boardroom-show-john-mel-a-patriar_141809/|access-date=2020-08-02|website=Surfline.com}}</ref>

==Career== Throughout the 1990s, Mel participated on the World Surf League domestic and Qualifying Series,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Pro Surfer: Peter Mel|url=https://www.worldsurfleague.com/athletes/118/peter-mel|access-date=2020-08-02|website=World Surf League|language=en}}</ref> before finally finding his niche of big-wave surfing during California's El Nino winter of 1997–1998.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.surfingmagazine.com/news/surfing-pulse/062303_redbull/|title=Peter Mel Employs All Aspects of Surfing to Win the RB5X|date=2003-06-23|publisher=Surfing Magazine|access-date=2009-07-05}}</ref> The Big Wave World Tour concluded its third successful season crowning Mel as Big Wave World Tour Champion winning the Billabong Pico Alto Invitational.<ref name=":0" />

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.<ref name=":1" /> He finished eighth in the 1998 Surfer Magazine Reader’s Poll Awards.<ref>Surfer Magazine November 1998</ref>

In 2018, Mel participated in an interview with a surfing periodical with journalist Shelby Stanger to discuss personal issues he fought with and overcame.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theinertia.com/surf/peter-mel-opens-up-about-sobriety-fear-failure-and-finding-balance-in-life/|title=Peter Mel Opens Up About Sobriety, Fear, Failure, and Finding Balance in Life|last=Stanger|first=Shelby|website=The Inertia|date=September 20, 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Citation|title=The Surfline Interview: Laird Hamilton with Peter Mel|url=http://www.surfline.com/surflinetv/featured-clips/the-surfline-interview-laird-hamilton-with-peter-mel_140396|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref>

=== Contest wins === {| class="wikitable" |+ class="nowrap"| !Year !Place !Contest |- |style="text-align:center;" |1997||style="text-align:center;" |1st|| O'Neill Cold Water Classic, Santa Cruz, California<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adventuresportsnetwork.com/sport/surf/nat-young-leads-local-contingent-on-day-four-of-oneill-cold-water-classic/|title=Nat Young Leads Local Contingent On Day Four Of O'Neill Cold Water Classic|date=2008-10-25|website=Adventure Sports Network|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-27}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center;" |2011|| style="text-align:center;" |1st||Billabong Pico Alto Copa Burn<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/pete-mel-wins-billabong-pico-alto_58332/|title=PETER MEL WINS BILLABONG PICO ALTO|website=Surfline.com|access-date=2018-12-27}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center;" |2012|| style="text-align:center;" |1st||Big Wave World Tour<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theinertia.com/surf/peter-mel-claims-big-wave-world-title-future-prospects/|title=Peter Mel Claims Big Wave World Title|last=Green|first=Marvin|website=The Inertia|date=April 7, 2012 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-27}}</ref> |- | style="text-align:center;" |2013|| style="text-align:center;" |1st||Mavericks Invitational<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/peter-mel-wins-the-mavericks-invitational-2012-2013|title=Peter Mel wins the Mavericks Invitational 2012-2013|last=SurferToday.com|website=SurferToday|language=en-us|access-date=2018-12-27}}</ref> |}

== 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.<ref name="Retired">{{cite web|last=Logie|first=Travis|date=2014-11-15|title=Logie Talks Retirement with Mel|url=http://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/81856/travis-logie-talks-retirement-peter-mel?isearch=true&scategory=all|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2015-03-06|work=worldsurfleague.com}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|1307564}} * {{WSL profile|118<!-- /peter-mel -->}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mel, Peter}} Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:American surfers Category:Sportspeople from Santa Cruz, California Category:World Surf League surfers Category:Big wave surfers