Santa Cruz surfing legend Peter Mel, who turns 55 on Nov. 24, was among those honored Wednesday with invitations to compete in the 2024-25 The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, held at Waimea Bay, on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii.
The contest window for the heralded event — named in honor of the native Hawaiian big wave surf champion and life-saving lifeguard– opens Dec. 14 and runs through March 13.
Santa Cruz big wave surfer Peter Mel caught the “wave of his life” on this barreling 40- to 45-footer at Mavericks in Jan.