Tres Palmas, holding. Photo: Javier Gil

Sahid Perez, crisp, clean and shacked in Puerto Rico. Photo: Luis Santiago

"We saw the swell and shot down for a quick strike mission," says New York ambassador and traveling big-wave pro Will Skudin. "I went undergunned and unprepared and Tres Palms kicked my ass for six hours straight. Lesson learned the hard way. But there were some standout sets and we were all blessed to get a couple." (Note: Here is ass kicking for many. And that's Brian Carson going left.) Photo: gOnzo

"This was the swell of the winter and we're stoked to get the opportunity to work a [Swell Story] with such colorful stuff," froths Puerto Rican photographer Manny "gOnzo" Gonzalez. "Everyone was there: Gabriel Padial, Angel Vazquez, Rachel Tanner, Laserwolf and Brent Bielmann and others — tons of shooters getting tons of material. I've been shooting like a madman, too! Epic swell down here in Puerto Rico. Caribbean perfection!" Ricardo Delgado. Photo: gOnzo

"We finally got some swell!" says Puerto Rican pro Alejandro Moreda. "The waves were really fun. Gas [Chambers] broke, and that hasn't happened in so long. It was fun being out there with all the boys, 'cause Gas is a myth! It never gets good! We got lucky." Photo: Laserwolf

"This past swell was epic," says Puerto Rican photographer Javier Gil. "Seeing locals like Carlos Badillo, Gabriel Canals, Miguel Canals, Alexis Hollins and Ramse Morales, among others, charging Tres Palmas was amazing in itself. Then you throw in guys like Garrett McNamara, Héctor Osuna, Rob Kelly and Leif Engstrom and you got yourself a weekend full of great waves and great surfing!" Photo: Javier Gil

"We were on deck to go to Tahiti," says Puerto Rican pro Otto Flores (pictured). "I told the boys to change plans and they were into it. They flew from Hawaii last minute and got to see the Caribbean come alive." Photo: Laserwolf

When you've grown up dodging bodies while inside thick, backwashy tubes, you learn a thing or two about being light on your feet. Dylan Graves, nimble as ever at Gas Chambers. Photo: Rachel Tanner







Dylan Graves, Hawaiian visitor Dusty Payne, Brian Toth and friends, all smiles in between sessions. Photo: Rachel Tanner

Dusty Payne takes a break somewhere that's not quite Hawaii, not quite a competition, and every bit of paradise. Sequence: Rachel Tanner

"That last swell?" says Puerto Rican pro Brian Toth. "I drove around chasing the golden egg a lot, but you know what? We scored some fun surf with good friends. At the end of the day, it was epic!" Photo: Joe McDaniel

"Otto Flores convinced us [Eala Stewart, pictured, and me] to make the trek from Hawaii to Puerto Rico," says photographer Brandon "Laserwolf" Campbell. "Best call ever!" Photo: Laserwolf

"I've been missing the best winter ever in Jersey, so I'm glad Mother Nature decided to give me a little taste," says New Jersey pro/Barbados frequenter Jamie Moran. "Better late than never. It's been a very lackluster swell season in the Caribbean, leaving most of the wintertime N swell spots dormant since November. The curse was finally broken over the weekend, though, with a healthy shot of NNW swell at a decent period, which gave us two full days of fun to large surf, depending on the spot you chose."

"I'm sore, sunburnt, and cut up today but I finally have a bunch of moments in the mental wave bank, so I'm stoked," adds Moran. "I personally had a lot of pent-up energy from the 'worst winter in 20 years' and surfed a total of 16 hours in those two days." Photo: Chris Padfield

"Saturday saw a rising and peaking swell with most of the west coast of Barbados breaking," Jamie Moran finishes. "Although the direction kept a few of the usual go-to spots not quite up to par — making everyone [like Julius Pollard here paddling up a solid face at a very secret spot] explore a little more — good waves were around if you were willing to look for them." Photo: Chris Padfield

"It was a bit of a weird swell for us," says young Bajan talent Bruce Mackie. "None of the normal spots were really working, so we did some searching on Saturday and struck gold. Then on Sunday, out of nowhere, Soupbowl turned on. It was basically Jamie Moran and I all day." Photo: Chris Padfield

Meanwhile, this PR westside reef does its part to show another side of the island's potential. Photo: GPadial

Local legend and former HIC Pipeline Pro champion Carlos Cabrero, all wrapped up in a moment he had to wait an entire season for, somewhere on the west side of Puerto Rico. Photo: Angel Vazquez

See those rocks? Sharp. The wave? Heavy. Ariel Engstrom smartly timing the paddle out. Photo: Rachel Tanner

Pablo Diaz, style to spare on his very own catwalk. Photo: Jorge Colomer

Hawaiian visitor Eala Stewart (pictured) followed Otto Flores to this outer island wave. "Otto knows his shit," says Laserwolf. "He looked at the charts and knew exactly where and when to beach it every day of the swell. We scored a PR spot pretty much as good as it gets and then again at another spot a few islands over. By the end of the trip we were all calling him 'Uncle Otto.'" Photo: Laserwolf

"I was visiting family in Florida waiting to head to Portugal for some new adventures when I got wind of swell heading to the Caribbean," says Hawaiian big-wave pro Garrett McNamara. "At first I was considering the British Virgin Islands, but after talking with several people it looked like Puerto Rico was the call because it can hold bigger swell." Photo: Oliver Bencosme

"It was a very amazing swell," gOnzo adds. "Everyone is surfed-out, sunburned and happy. Some pros came around. I saw Garrett McNamara, Dusty Payne and Eala Stewart. And Magnum Martînez from Venezuela [pictured] got severely shacked." Photo: gOnzo

Things happen quick in these parts...

"Puerto Rico is inconsistent, true, but when it cranks it is amazing, colorful and memorable," finishes gOnzo. "This swell has just been incredible." Mauro Diaz. Photo: gOnzo; video: Antonio Santiago

Hawaiian superstar Dusty Payne — every reflex on high alert. And glad he made the trip. Photo: Gabriel Martinez