Peter Mel is old enough to be my dad and is still riding some of the biggest and best waves ever ridden at Mavericks. Man he is such a big wave legend and a humble and intelligent guy. I could listen to him talk for hours.
All my heaviest hold downs where a piece of cake... I suffer the most on 3-4ft waves, ironically. When things get huge, I can't panic anymore. I don't think anymore. Heaviest hold downs, from wiping out (not from getting caught inside... that is a different mental ballgame) all where easy, because I just go into 'deal with it' mode. When it comes to getting caught inside, that is MUCH MUCH worse, because you see this thing coming, you have time to think, and that is where panic can happen.
I used to work with peter in the late 80s at pleasure point pizza. A super nice guy even back then. We'd often joke about how after a good surf sesh' the sea water which never quite left our sinus drainages would sometimes and without much notice, come flying out of our beaks while making the best pizza in capitola-santa cruz. Ahh good times
The story of Mavericks (and Jeff Clark) is one of the coolest, most intense stories in sports. That there are only 50 or 60 guys in the world competing on waves like this is wild. I love the mentality these guys have.
Peter should've connected me with this film crew. I captured that '95 two wave hold down from the Deeper Blue Ab boat sitting in prime position on the shoulder. Kept the camera rolling thru the entire hold down - board tombstoning - until he surfaced after the 2nd wave. Quite dramatic commentary going on in the boat from Steve Dwyer, who dove in to save him. Wasn't necessary. Peter popped up and paddled straight over to our boat. I just kept the camera rolling. He was all amped up and jabbering the moment he reached us and climbed onboard. I got him describing the entire underwater experience. Quite a bit more interesting than this vanilla interview.
i remember i was 10, just smoked 4 bong tokes, went and dove in the pool, the pit followed me, when i come up, he was right there, his swimming front paws were as bad as any reef or great white, i went to the bottom of the pool, let all the air out of my lungs so i could just lay there, peaceful and serene, looking at that dog swimming in circles over me at the top, waiting for me to come up...
The boundaries in any extreme sport are always pushed to the limits and that's how Extreme Sports evolve! Unfortunately lives can be lost, but everyone knows the risks involved!
That's really be cool headed when u have a force pushing u and u know what u have to do,but realize hey I have to wait a little before I start to make my way back,awareness of all.
Thank u I been wondering how u physically u deal with and I know the mental part is key,but I was just curious about the physics of it,and u guys at mavs have a uniquely powerful wave that drove a long way let u ride it,I race motorcycles many kinds its dangerous but its not combined with drowning or water the worst we have to deal with is stopping before u try to get up from a crash,otherwise ur just along for the ride,get away from the bike is the unwritten law so I was curious what kind of things surfers do beside not swimming in the foam,that's the only thing I knew about,from my cousin Vinny,ok his name Gary...thanks oh yeah the other thing I heard is ankle strap actually helps u go back up,I thought the last thing u would want is this board pulling u all over the place,but I hear it get u back up and helps so that's cool...I'm sticking to my vert skateboarding,I'm 54 and I'm just learning how to skate concrete pools big ones only,I'm a half pipe old school skater.by age 60 I should be ready for the X games..........hah hah no just still having fun,airs.piece out.
I'm like a piece of seaweed on the currents. You just can't care, you'll come up. The urge to breathe, is not from a lack of oxygen, but rather the buildup of carbon dioxide as the trigger. Relax, you have plenty of time. Even if you have the wind knocked out of you, the amount of time changes little, It's all mental. I practice holding my breath after exhaling , at a high heart rate, till I am passing out. It is important to drown well and not breathe in water, so I want to be able to hold my breath till passing out instead of freaking out. Much more pleasant that way and allows you to think.
@Craig T that’s funny. But I think I know what he was trying to say...there’s a meditation technique called “die before you die” that is a similar concept.
Peter Mel is old enough to be my dad and is still riding some of the biggest and best waves ever ridden at Mavericks. Man he is such a big wave legend and a humble and intelligent guy. I could listen to him talk for hours.
All my heaviest hold downs where a piece of cake... I suffer the most on 3-4ft waves, ironically. When things get huge, I can't panic anymore. I don't think anymore. Heaviest hold downs, from wiping out (not from getting caught inside... that is a different mental ballgame) all where easy, because I just go into 'deal with it' mode. When it comes to getting caught inside, that is MUCH MUCH worse, because you see this thing coming, you have time to think, and that is where panic can happen.
I used to work with peter in the late 80s at pleasure point pizza. A super nice guy even back then. We'd often joke about how after a good surf sesh' the sea water which never quite left our sinus drainages would sometimes and without much notice, come flying out of our beaks while making the best pizza in capitola-santa cruz. Ahh good times
Nice
I didn't know Dan Marino was also a badass surfer - good to know!
The story of Mavericks (and Jeff Clark) is one of the coolest, most intense stories in sports. That there are only 50 or 60 guys in the world competing on waves like this is wild. I love the mentality these guys have.
Outstanding interview.
Sweet! Always awesome to hear comments from Peter Mel, especially about Mavs.
Peter should've connected me with this film crew. I captured that '95 two wave hold down from the Deeper Blue Ab boat sitting in prime position on the shoulder. Kept the camera rolling thru the entire hold down - board tombstoning - until he surfaced after the 2nd wave. Quite dramatic commentary going on in the boat from Steve Dwyer, who dove in to save him. Wasn't necessary. Peter popped up and paddled straight over to our boat. I just kept the camera rolling. He was all amped up and jabbering the moment he reached us and climbed onboard. I got him describing the entire underwater experience. Quite a bit more interesting than this vanilla interview.
Video quality is ahead of its time
i remember i was 10, just smoked 4 bong tokes, went and dove in the pool, the pit followed me, when i come up, he was right there, his swimming front paws were as bad as any reef or great white, i went to the bottom of the pool, let all the air out of my lungs so i could just lay there, peaceful and serene, looking at that dog swimming in circles over me at the top, waiting for me to come up...
Wtf lol what
Same bro
Same thing happened to me bro! Glad to hear you made it out too
Peter looks great, considering how long this guy has been on the scene he's lucky to be alive. Great guy too.
The boundaries in any extreme sport are always pushed to the limits and that's how Extreme Sports evolve! Unfortunately lives can be lost, but everyone knows the risks involved!
Peter was my next door neighbor we surfed many times
A man's man! and just a beautiful human being, with extraordinary courage like that of a lion, respect Peter :D
What is the @ time you are actually under on a 2 wave hold down at Mavs. or jaws...?
That's really be cool headed when u have a force pushing u and u know what u have to do,but realize hey I have to wait a little before I start to make my way back,awareness of all.
🙏 Peter Mel 🙏
I couldn't chill. I would drown.
spd13062 Yes, probably. It’s all about conditioning and control surviving a bad wipeout.
Legend.
Training kicked in.
Thank u I been wondering how u physically u deal with and I know the mental part is key,but I was just curious about the physics of it,and u guys at mavs have a uniquely powerful wave that drove a long way let u ride it,I race motorcycles many kinds its dangerous but its not combined with drowning or water the worst we have to deal with is stopping before u try to get up from a crash,otherwise ur just along for the ride,get away from the bike is the unwritten law so I was curious what kind of things surfers do beside not swimming in the foam,that's the only thing I knew about,from my cousin Vinny,ok his name Gary...thanks oh yeah the other thing I heard is ankle strap actually helps u go back up,I thought the last thing u would want is this board pulling u all over the place,but I hear it get u back up and helps so that's cool...I'm sticking to my vert skateboarding,I'm 54 and I'm just learning how to skate concrete pools big ones only,I'm a half pipe old school skater.by age 60 I should be ready for the X games..........hah hah no just still having fun,airs.piece out.
Swimming is interesting your new friend here
Oh boy a whole day out.
I'm like a piece of seaweed on the currents.
You just can't care, you'll come up.
The urge to breathe, is not from a lack of oxygen, but rather the buildup of carbon dioxide as the trigger. Relax, you have plenty of time. Even if you have the wind knocked out of you, the amount of time changes little, It's all mental. I practice holding my breath after exhaling , at a high heart rate, till I am passing out. It is important to drown well and not breathe in water, so I want to be able to hold my breath till passing out instead of freaking out. Much more pleasant that way and allows you to think.
@Craig T that’s funny.
But I think I know what he was trying to say...there’s a meditation technique called “die before you die” that is a similar concept.
Holy Hold-Downs Batman❕🌊🌊 😱😵😵💫
i thought it was Simon cowell in the thumbnail
Dan Marino
Im hearing you doggy dog