Peter Mel is widely known as one of the best big wave surfers on the planet. His performances at Mavericks, including winning the 2012/2013 Mavericks Invitational, are the stuff of surfing legends. What you may not know is that the ASP beach commentator and new ASP Big Wave Tour commissioner comes from a strong lineage of Santa Cruz surfers and is proudly keeping the surf gene in the bloodline with his own son. Pete Mel’s father, John has lived in Santa Cruz, California since 1969. He started Freeline Surf Shop not long after to showcase the boards he shaped and he raised Peter between racks of surfboard blanks and wetsuits. After a successful competitive and free surfing career, Mel has stepped back from the limelight to help coach his son, also named John, who is entering the professional scene in a big way.