Santa Cruz’s John Mel, competing on the break where he produced an event win in 2019, turned in a stellar showing Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals at the World Surf League’s Pacifico Surf Open Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca, Mexico.Mel produced a two-wave total score of 15.65 to take first in Heat 4 of the Round of 16, held in 4- to 6-foot conditions off the coast of Puerto Escondido. He landed a couple of aerials in his heat. He hopped on a heat-high eight waves and counted scores of 9.00 and 6.65 in the Men’s Qualifying Series 1,000-point event. Capistrano Beach’s Jake Davis (13.10) took second behind Mel and also advanced to the quarterfinals. San Clemente’s Kei Kobayashi (11.15) and Manhattan Beach’s Kai Kushner (9.85) took third and fourth in the heat, respectively, and were eliminated. Mel first visited the break when he was six and has visited often over the years. “I just feel a really special connection,” said Mel, in a post-heat interview with the WSL. “My dad has done well out here. He’s gotten a 10-point ride out here. So i just really love the area and I feel like it brings that back to me, a little. So that’s what it felt like. It sent me that one 9.0, a perfect, easy air section, and I was just feeling a cool connection. I think that’s why I’m able to do well here. I’m pretty stoked.” Mel faces Will Deane in Heat 4 of the quarterfinals when action concludes Sunday. Mel (10.25) took second behind Kepa Mendia (13.00) of West Palm Beach, Florida, in Heat 5 of the Round of 32 on Friday. Panama’s Kai Gale Grani (10.05) and Mexico’s Irving Martin (5.00) took third and fourth, respctively, and were eliminated. Mel (10.35) also won his opening heat in the Round of 64 on Thursday. (c)2024 the Santa Cruz Sentinel (Scotts Valley, Calif.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Santa Cruz's John Mel advances to quarterfinals in Mexico

Santa Cruz’s John Mel, competing on the break where he produced an event win in 2019, turned in a stellar showing Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals at the World Surf League’s Pacifico Surf Open Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca, Mexico. Mel produced a two-wave total score of 15.65 to take first in Heat 4 of […]

Santa Cruz’s John Mel, competing on the break where he produced an event win in 2019, turned in a stellar showing Saturday to advance to the quarterfinals at the World Surf League’s Pacifico Surf Open Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Mel produced a two-wave total score of 15.65 to take first in Heat 4 of the Round of 16, held in 4- to 6-foot conditions off the coast of Puerto Escondido. He landed a couple of aerials in his heat.

He hopped on a heat-high eight waves and counted scores of 9.00 and 6.65 in the Men’s Qualifying Series 1,000-point event.

Capistrano Beach’s Jake Davis (13.10) took second behind Mel and also advanced to the quarterfinals.

San Clemente’s Kei Kobayashi (11.15) and Manhattan Beach’s Kai Kushner (9.85) took third and fourth in the heat, respectively, and were eliminated.

Mel first visited the break when he was six and has visited often over the years.

“I just feel a really special connection,” said Mel, in a post-heat interview with the WSL. “My dad has done well out here. He’s gotten a 10-point ride out here. So i just really love the area and I feel like it brings that back to me, a little. So that’s what it felt like. It sent me that one 9.0, a perfect, easy air section, and I was just feeling a cool connection. I think that’s why I’m able to do well here. I’m pretty stoked.”

Mel faces Will Deane in Heat 4 of the quarterfinals when action concludes Sunday.

Mel (10.25) took second behind Kepa Mendia (13.00) of West Palm Beach, Florida, in Heat 5 of the Round of 32 on Friday. Panama’s Kai Gale Grani (10.05) and Mexico’s Irving Martin (5.00) took third and fourth, respctively, and were eliminated.

Mel (10.35) also won his opening heat in the Round of 64 on Thursday.