Veteran surfer Peter Mel cops Mavericks Invitational in California HALF MOON BAY, Calif., Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Veteran Peter Mel captured the 2013 Mavericks Invitational big-wave surfing contest in Northern California Sunday. The 43-year-old Santa Cruz surfer split $50,000 in prize money with the next four finishers -- Alex Martins, Greg Long, Zach Wormhoudt, Mark Healey and Shawn Dollar, the Half Moon Bay Review reported. It was Mel's first win at the event, which started in 1999. "I've been surfing Mavericks for 25 years," Mel said. It's a relief [to win] more than anything else. Spectators were kept away from the shoreline to prevent them from being hit by rogue shore breaks. One big-name surfer watching warm and dry on shore was Kelly Slater, whom organizers said had to pull out Saturday.