Santa Cruz big wave surfer Peter Mel, 51, was rewarded for the “wave of his life” on the Red Bull Big Wave Awards Show on Friday.

The awards show, aired on worldsurfleague.com, featured $350,000 in prize money that was divided across four categories for men’s and women’s divisions: Ride of the Year, Biggest Paddle, Biggest Tow, and Performer of the Year.

Mel won Ride of the Year for his wave at Mavericks on Jan. 8. His ride was captured by Curt Myers. Video of his feat was posted on YouTube. It had received 880,947 views as of Friday night.

World Surf League announcer Paul Evans coaxed Mel, a colleague, back to the broadcast booth for a sound check during the Quiksilver Pro France last week to inform him of his accomplishment. Video of their exchange aired on the awards show.

“Oh, dude. Wow. Is it real?” said Mel, giving a sigh of relief. “You’re not screwing with me, right? Wow, that’s amazing. Long time coming, really. I’m ecstatic. I …”

Mel paused to gather himself, before continuing, “I knew it was happening soon. I knew things were rolling, but this is exciting. It is truly exciting. I’ve never won an award before. I’ve never won a big wave award.”

Mel dedicated the award to his family. He said he heard whispers that he might win.

“I was thinking that I was going to win an award, a lot of people telling me that. I knew that this wave was really special. Mavericks is something that is extremely important in my life. It’s been a long road there. This wave that came to me was a gift. It wasn’t just me. It was coming from the universe, God.

“The dedication my family has given me, my father, my mother, who recently just passed away, so I dedicate this award to her, my wife and all the tireless times she’s had to deal with me running off and ‘Yeah, I can’t make it to dinner, I’ve got a swell to run to’ or extending trips because of waves. Thank you, honey, this means a lot,” he said, kissing his ring finger.

Mel was nominated four times, in three categories. He placed twice in Biggest Paddle, taking second for a Mavericks ride captured by Pedro Bala on Jan. 8, and fifth for a Mavericks ride captured by Marcus Chambers.on Dec. 8, 2020.

Mel placed second in to Hawaii’s Kai Lenny for Performer of the Year.

While the Red Bull Big Wave Award may have been Mel’s first, he has had plenty of big wins in his career. Among them, he won the O’Neill Cold Water Classic in Santa Cruz in 1997, Billabong Pico Alto Copa Burn in 2011, was crowned Big Wave World Tour Champion 2011-12 and won the Mavericks contest in 2013.2021 Red Bull Big Wave Award winners

Men’s winners

Ride of the Year
1. Peter Mel at Mavericks, on Jan. 8, 2021. Captured by Curt Myers.
2. Kai Lenny at Jaws, Hawaii, on Dec. 2, 2020. Captured by Elliot Leboe.
3. Kai Lenny at Jaws, Hawaii, on Jan. 16, 2021. Captured by Marcus Rodrigues.
4. Grant “Twiggy” Baker at Mavericks, on Dec. 11, 2020. Captured by Richard Hallman.
5. Conor Maguire at Mullaghmore Head, Ireland, on Oct. 28, 2020. Captured by Clem McInerney.

Biggest Paddle
1. Kai Lenny at Jaws, Hawaii, on Dec. 2, 2020. Captured by Sebastian Tronolone Jr.
2. Peter Mel at Mavericks, on Jan. 8, 2021. Captured by Pedro Bala.
3. Billy Kemper at Jaws, Hawaii, on Dec. 2, 2020. Captured by  Sebastian Tronolone Jr.
4. Grant “Twiggy” Baker at Mavericks, on Dec. 11, 2020. Captured by Richard Hallman.
5. Peter Mel at Mavericks, on Dec. 8, 2020. Captured by Marcus Chambers.

Biggest Tow
1. Sebastian Steudtner at Nazaré, Portugal, on Oct. 29, 2020. Captured by Jorge Leal.
2. Kai Lenny at Jaws, Hawaii, on Jan. 16, 2021. Captured by Marcus Rodrigues.
3. Conor Maguire at Mullaghmore Head, Ireland, on Oct. 28, 2020. Captured by Clem McInerney.
4. Sebastian Steudtner at Nazaré, Portugal, on Oct. 29, 2020. Captured by Jorge Leal.
5. Lucas “Chumbo” Chianca at Nazaré, Portugal, on Oct. 29, 2020. Captured by Pedro Miranda.

Performer of the Year
1. Kai Lenny
2. Peter Mel
3. Grant “Twiggy” Baker
4. Sebastian Steudtner
5. Conor Maguire

Women’s winners

Ride of the Year
1. Justine Dupont at Jaws, Hawaii, on Jan. 16, 2021. Captured by Slater Berosky.
2. Maya Gabeira at Nazaré, Portugal, on Feb. 5, 2021. Captured by Cesinha Feliciano.
3. Keala Kennelly at Himalayas, Hawaii, on Dec. 2, 2020. Captured by Ken Kosada.
4. Paige Alms at Todos Santos, Mexico, on Jan. 11, 2021. Captured by Mike Nulty.
5. Michelle de Bouillons at Nazaré, Portugal, on Feb. 22, 2021. Captured by Cesinha Feliciano.

Biggest Paddle
1. Paige Alms at Todos Santos, Mexico, on Jan. 11, 2021. Captured by Ryan Craig.
2. Keala Kennelly at Himalayas, Hawaii, on Dec. 2, 2020. Captured by Ken Kosada.
3. Justine Dupont at Mavericks, on Dec. 8, 2020. Captured by Pedro Bala.
4. Bianca Valenti at Mavericks, on Jan. 12, 2021. Captured by Curt Myers.
5. Justine Dupont at Jaws, Hawaii, on Jan. 17, 2021. Captured by Maui Cartel.

Biggest Tow
1. Justine Dupont at Jaws, Hawaii, on Jan. 16, 2021.  Captured by Sebastian Tronolone Jr.
2. Maya Gabeira at Nazaré, Portugal, on Oct. 29, 2020. Captured by Jorge Leal.
3. Justine Dupont at Nazaré, Portugal, on Oct. 29, 2020. Captured by Above Creators.
4. Maya Gabeira at Nazaré, Portugal, on Feb. 5, 2021. Captured by Luis de Sá.
5. Justine Dupont at Mavericks, on Jan. 1, 2021. Captured by Pedro Bala.

Performer of the Year
1. Justine Dupont
2. Maya Gabeira
3. Paige Alms
4. Keala Kennelly
5. Michelle de Bouillons