The waiting period for the 2007 Mavericks Surf Contest is now over. This brings bad news for surfers and surf fans alike. The surf spot is an unpredictable place and Mother Nature calls all the shots. It takes near perfect conditions – swell, winds, tides, and weather - to create contest-worthy surf at Mavericks. This year, that perfect day never came.

For years, Santa Cruz native, Peter Mel has been the hands-down choice at Mavericks being one of the most talented and influential surfers. He is one of the best-known Northern California surfers in international competition. Mel joins the Golden Gate [X]press Online to talk about riding the big waves, his preparation for the competition and what’s in store for his future.