Surf Community Responds to Incredible ‘Wave of the Decade’ at Mavericks

When surfers in the channel are immediately calling out “wave of the decade” and “best wave ever at Mavs”, you know you’ve just seen something special.

Veteran big wave surfer Peter Mel snagged the wave of his life at Mavericks on Saturday (AEDT), leaving his colleagues in awe.

Surfing at the Mavericks surf break off the coast of northern California, Mel tucked in to a heavy barrel before coming out with the spit to wild cheers.

“This paddle-in wave with a chip-shot takeoff followed by a straight line through the bowl is next level big-wave surfing,” Surfline reported. “Shows what decades of experience — and sheer talent — can do for a fella. In the channel, ‘ride of the year’ and ‘wave of the decade’ and ‘best wave ever at Mavs’ and ‘everyone is in shock’ was thrown around.”

The reaction of Peter Mel and the surfer in the background is amazing.Source: Supplied

A video of the wave taken from the shore showed Mel completely disappeared behind the curtain.

“He took off so deep on this wave that he was out of frame — he’s inside the barrel at the beginning. And he comes out with the spit. That does not happen often at Mavs,” Surfline said.

The surf world was frothing. “Everyone on earth should see this ride,” Kelly Slater declared.

Pete’s son, Jon, who was with him at Mavericks wrote: “Words can’t describe what I watched today … 51 years old and just set the standard of what everyone will now be chasing to get the best wave out there. Congratulations … I love you dad!”

“That wave was by far my best in 29 years of surfing Maverick’s,” Pete said. “I mean, I’ve been seeing those types of waves my whole life. But I was never brave enough to do it. I always thought, ‘maybe I could get one from there.’ Then, the other day (Dec 8, when he rode another amazing wave) kind of catalyzed that slightly.”

“I’m actually depressed right now. It’s crazy. I don’t know. It’s the weirdest thing. I’ve never felt this kind of…it’s like, ‘Oh my God. I’m 50 years old. Did I just do that?’ But it’s like, ‘now what? What do I look forward to now?’ You know what I mean? Do I do it again? It’s pretty scary, I guess, so I don’t know.”