O TYM ODCINKU
Growing up in the shadow of one of surfing’s all time greats must be a daunting task. Not only are there a great deal of expectations to live up to, but theres also a paradoxical assumption that one must blaze their own trail, lest they appear reliant on the fame of their forbearers in their quest to make a name for themselves. For John Mel, son of big wave legend Peter Mel and heir to the Freeline Surf Shop dynasty, there’s no pressure involved.
“It’s funny, a lot of people ask me, ‘do you feel like you have big shoes to fill?’ I’ve never felt that way, he’s never put pressure on me, he wouldn’t even care if I wasn’t ever gonna be a surfer, he was just always wanting to be a dad to me.”
While this may be true, it’s also clear that both Pete and John are thrilled to share an infatuation with riding surf, from two foot to seventy foot. While Pete aided young John in his stellar amateur surfing career, one that saw him clinch five national titles, John now aids his old man in whipping into bone-crunching slabs at Mavericks.
While most surf prodigies run the risk of burning out upon adulthood, twenty-six year old John is still plugging away at his competitive dreams, and having a hell of a time doing it. And at the heart of his pro surfing longevity— the support and friendship of the man who brought him into this world.
“It’s also rad, because I have one of the best teachers in the world, he’s always done it in a way with love—giving me the guidance but never pushing me in any kind of way, and I think that’s what’s kept me in this for so long.”
In this episode of the Split Peak Soup Podcast, come learn more about this touching father-son relationship and what makes young John a unique individual worth getting to know.
