Jared Mell on learning to shape, traveling, and the art of having fun.

Jared Mell is a surfer and shaper who grew up in Orange County, California, surfing Blackies and riding primarily longboards, but also eggs, fishes, alaias, etc. Mell’s competed in many events, and landed many decent results, but they seem almost incidental to what he brings to the surf buffet. “Jared will be walking the nose backside and at the last second he’ll turn switch,” says Alex Knost, “and as I’m watching and celebrating that sort of maneuvering he’ll take an extra step with one foot over, do a head dip and whip his hair back, and dramatically recover into a matador-like soul arch with his eyes wide as can be and just staring into my soul, and then he’ll burst into laughter as he rides past.” “I used to call Jared the one-man party,” says filmmaker Jack Coleman. “Any function or hang was always full of mischief and laughs, hence the nickname, ‘J-Rad.’ He surfs radical and lives radical, always pushing the limits on land and in the water. Jared’s a performance artist. Spontaneous. Unpredictable. From his reverse tube riding to his sultry transitions, Jared makes you watch.” Mell has appeared in many surf films, among them Polyester, Groove Move, Free Jazz, Forbidden Trim, and Yi-Wo. His waves stand out. He surfs with an ease and grace and looseness that seems less the product of a serious training regimen than not trying too hard—like someone who perhaps adds a few beers to that “not trying too hard.” And maybe a couple of cigarettes, too. “Jared Mell is the personification of the modern transitional surfer spanning the front-footed universe, into the back-footed and beyond,” says Thomas Campbell “He’s the king of fun. He’s a professional professional at having fun.” Today, Mell is based in Bali, where he moved around 2009. He lives and shapes in the Canggu area. In this episode of Soundings, Mell talks with Jamie Brisick about growing up in Newport Beach, maintaining perspective, staying loose, scoring waves at unexpected moments, and ditching contests to see Chaka Khan perform live in concert. Become a TSJ member at surfersjournal.com Presented by Rainbow® Sandals. Produced by Jonathan Shifflett. Music by PazKa (Aska Matsumiya & Paz Lenchantin). Feature image by Grant Ellis.