Peter Mel
Unsheathe Peter Mel! | Photo: @throwingdisqus

Opinion: “Save us Pete Mel!”

Can the Santa Cruz stud save professional surfing from mediocrity?

Am I the only one who has been sitting here the last few years scratching my head and wondering why Pete Mel had been relegated to gimmicky in-water updates?

Alas, it took Ross Williams hopping on the John John/Hurley gravy train to open up a steady slot for Pete in the booth. And In his A-team debut, the gauntlet has been thrown down.

Pete wants progression. 

Kolohe has just been handed the shocker snubbing of the year. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s the first contest of the year and only the non-elimination round for, I know. But this is how it starts. Like the first wave of the heat sets the tone for the heat, the first contest does so for the year.

While Wilko did the same predictable/repetitive backside hacks down the line, Kolohe chucked a few hefty reverses after laying down a hammer out the back. Wilko 8.6, Kolohe 8.3. Even as a goofyfooter myself, I’m having trouble justifying this one.

Kolohe has just been handed the shocker snubbing of the year. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s the first contest of the year and only the non-elimination round for, I know. But this is how it starts. Like the first wave of the heat sets the tone for the heat, the first contest does so for the year.

Mr. Mel made the very good, and dangerously foreshadowing point that a competitor like Kolohe (and other caution-to-the-wind throwers) will have no motivation to huck it if they aren’t going to get rewarded for it. Mel was genuinely perplexed. He is the opposite of  Martin “I am one of the pioneers of aerial surfing but practically jizz myself whenever someone holds back and safely finishes a wave” Potter.

Could it be because Pete is the father of a tail-chucking grom himself and fears for his future?

Does he watch so much competitive surfing that his head is about to explode from seeing the best in the world do castrated carves on sections begging for more?

Whatever the case, this is a scary precedent to set in a year that sees surfing’s most human-like robot Mick Fanning come back to full-time competition.

Keep em’ honest Pete! The world turns its eyes to you!

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huma's tears
huma's tears
9 years ago

“Thank God I’m more articulate than Pete Mel, Thank God I’m more articulate than Pete Mel, Thank God I’m more articulate than Pete Mel, Thank God I’m more articulate than Pete Mel.”

What Kaipo says every night before he goes to sleep.

Thurston
Thurston
9 years ago

I misread this headline as “Save Us From Pete Mel.”

Please, save us from Pete Mel.

Mapski
Mapski
9 years ago

Is the air reverse still progressive?

Captain Clark
Captain Clark
9 years ago
Reply to  Mapski

Amen! Just judging on clips alone you would think it’s the move to beat.

offthegrid
offthegrid
9 years ago

Pottz sheathed. now theres an idea! nice thick connie to mute his relentless REPETITIVE fkn crap

huma's tears
huma's tears
9 years ago
Reply to  offthegrid

Here’s an idea, a drinking game based on every time Ptz says “Wow!”

Dude seems perpetually stunned, “Wow!”

offthegrid
offthegrid
9 years ago

let’s make Photoshop great again!

James B
James B
9 years ago

Well, when i say Mick’s surfing is robotic and repetitive, Mr. Negatron gets mad around here…

J H
J H
9 years ago
Reply to  James B

On this we agree, James. Having said that…Mick is so damn good that he makes the difficult look easy.

Joe Blowsmith
Joe Blowsmith
9 years ago

They all suck! Get Wassel back in there!

https://www.youtube.com/wat…

offthegrid
offthegrid
9 years ago
Reply to  Joe Blowsmith

cept for Strider on the nod on the couch. the Raspberry robotically coming to and commenting every 95 seconds is a riot compared the rest of em

throwing disqus
throwing disqus
9 years ago

I like Pottz.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…

Lemon Next to the Pie
Lemon Next to the Pie
9 years ago

Well, it looks like at least one oyster worked.

Audit In Progress
Audit In Progress
9 years ago

Well that’s terrifying.

Faketits
Faketits
9 years ago

Are you fucking kidding me? Usually enjoy his commentary but it has been agonizing to have to listen to him on an extended basis. Even Ronnie seems annoyed – listen to them during the first half of R3H2.

offthegrid
offthegrid
9 years ago
Reply to  Faketits

yup! best comp and webcast visuals in bloody ages, but commentary team chemistry farkd. with no WSL desk with which to grapple behind…..


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