The year of the condor.
Kelly Slater, the consensus greatest surfer of all time, has, until now, also been considered the current greatest surfing quinquagenarian. Days before turning 50, Slater became a Pipeline Pro and thereby saved himself the indignity of suffering the World Surf League’s controversial mid-season cull. Skipping World Surf League events in El Salvador and Brazil to physically rehab while also getting insanely barreled only burnished the 11-time world champion’s bonafides.
Major and surf media swooning at the elder statesman still plying his craft at the highest level.
Except.
Just today, 52-year-old Santa Cruz icon Pete Mel choked out the idea of Slater’s elderly stranglehold by posting the most searing clip ever of a man, woman or birthing person surfing with half a century-plus under the belt.
Examine.
You, of course, know Mel as the world’s second greatest surf commentator and also big wave stud. His Maverick ride, months ago, won the coveted Ride of the Year award.
All things considered, from Ride of the Year to picking waves off in a crowded lineup and demolishing, I think it is clear that this is the year of the condor.
Disagree?
I dare you.
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I just find it idiotic you said birthing person .
I like how he aims to finish his turns on top of those paddling in
Hopefully with fewer molestation incidents.
the rest of us…
https://external-content.du…
Lordy, that Mavs bomb is the best wave ever ridden there. Such aplomb.
I don’t usually care much to watch gigantic waves being surfed, but have watched that one many, many times.
You need to get a better instagram feed chas. Have you seen *any* of Taylor Knox’s feed lately? Remember for years he was “oldest surfer on tour” due to being one year older than kelly.
So many to choose from but this one is pretty impressive.
https://www.instagram.com/r…
I’m not commenting till I see Joel Tudor latest footage
I am pretty sure the only way I could tell current JT footage from footage 30 years ago would be the graininess of the video.
And then will you finally admit he’s gay?
I feel so lucky to have seen Toots live a few times.
And on a small stage
spot on
Mavs wave ridiculous but looked like an older surfer in clip — a little stiff
with funky style. Not close to the level of a young ripper. A lot guys in 50s surf better.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Not bad for an old cunt but slater is way better than that and only 1 year younger.
If there’s one thing Petey Pete ‘Pete’ Pete ‘Melly-Mel’ Mel don’t do, is choke.
He’s such a dude that he doesn’t even need his own coffee creamer product line.
His surfing looks the same as it did 25 years ago. Like he’s waiting on a section to stand up where others r styling off the bottom with foot work and body language. Hes looks like a boxer who doesn’t dance. We aways thought it must have been the booties sticking. Very powerful and precise but a little boring and predictable. I’ve never surfed that well myself but I like to walk and glide a little before setting a rail. He’s got nothing on slater. And he gets every wave he wants in Santa Cruz. Adding that in he surfs alright, ok. Maybe he uses his eyes where others use there feet.
Thank you for the tips Axel. I’ll take some dancing lessons.
You’ll go good at the waltz… just remember to tuck your fucken shirt in.
Props dude.
I’m going to send you some stickers.
Booooommmm! Lights out
Sugar and Melk
You’re killing me. Nice fucking work CB
Sigh… if only I still had a bong. Got the other part well covered.
tin foil, beer can, toilet paper roll…zig-zags?
I was absolutely savaged for suggesting a beer can pipe when nothing else available, inhalation of aluminum i suppose, i ain’t drain bamaged i swear!!!
best of the fast food joints…(looks even better stoned…which will not occur during the day, ever! anymore!) https://us-east-1.linodeobj…
hash/honey oil (not CDB) was best smoked on foil. only chased the dragon once!
not bamaged neither!!!
ne meithre.
glue keeps the synapses together! alcohol breaks them down. same old story, same old song and dance, my friend…back in the saddle again!
A fair amount of tripe in your mix up, though perhaps I’m grossly underestimates the irony contained in your mix-up.
https://youtu.be/lzCgU_s6YN0
mentioned that song to a friend tonight! a friend, in deed! nice/
Alzheimer’s “they” say…They meaning them, the researchers? Big Brother? Scientists?
The aluminium link has been disproven.
Earth bong?
In practice if not theory kind of like global warming
apple, carrot, potato? …Philly Blunts.
Mel is a legend
Last man standing from that whole 90,s generation of Santa Cruz hard charging meth smoking arseholes too
I still can’t get enough of that Mavs wave. So nutz.
Flea and Replogle still ripping fwiw
Why was he afraid of the lip?
Yeah what a pussy.
Speaking of, whatever happened to Flea? Charged harder, more explosive in smaller stuff, kicked his habit…but nada, while Mel still travels the world.
Think he runs a sober living home.
Flea-hab I believe.
Pete inherited a well established and successful $$ surf shop from his father
Hopped onto a different dog?
Probably not fear just 2 slow
When was the last time you cracked one?
Uh oh. Negs is PMSing again. Fyi I was cracked by multiple in Guatemala a few weeks ago. Good stuff.
Oh nice!
Compared to Mel, the rest of us are mere children. He’s the opposite of needy, as is self-contained Ethan, who’s naturally that way, while Jack is self-contained too but bc he works at it. Who are the needy surfers? Kelly and Italo come to mind. Others?
Kaipo
Slater has been assaulted and battered pretty regularly in the last week or two. He’s been punched in the face and choked out, but we’re all waiting on the “sweep the leg.”
finishing touch
good video