“No revolution ever started at the top.”
–Yvon Choinard
Otto Flores' journey into the world of surfing began on Taft Street, between Condado and Ocean Park, a small suburb nestled on the north coast of Puerto Rico. Growing up in the Playa Grande condominiums, Otto found himself at the epicenter of the island's burgeoning surf culture. In the late 1980s, local surf shops like Playero fueled the surf movement, introducing Otto and his peers to the vibrant world of neon colors, coconut-scented wax, and the dream of living a surf lifestyle.
“Living on the beach, I was surfing every single day,” says Flores. “But the turning point for me was when I witnessed the 1988 World Surfing Titles at Surfer's Beach in Aguadilla. That event was life-changing. It showed me just how incredibly vibrant Puerto Rico’s surf culture was, and gave me a glimpse of the life I wanted to live. This experience inspired me to pursue competitive surfing, where I was able to secure national titles and represent Puerto Rico on the international stage.”
Building an Ocean-Based Platform for Change
“As my career progressed, I focused on chasing waves around the world and developing relationships while capturing multiple covers on surf media publications,” continues Flores today. “This gave me leverage. My passion for surfing and the relationships it gave me inspired me to create platforms to inform, educate, and inspire others to protect the ocean. Fortunately, my involvement with Patagonia for the past twelve years provided me with the tools and training necessary to address critical issues like water safety in Puerto Rico where lifeguard programs are scarce.”
Recognizing the lack of formal ocean safety training in Puerto Rico, Otto used his influence to collaborate with the Big Wave Risk Assessment Group (BWRAG), a surf responder ocean and first aid training program, in order to bring their expertise from Hawaii and California to the island.
"Today,” Flores explains, “we have successfully created a safer lineup for the community and have empowered everyday surfers to become surf responders. For BWRAG - which I am proud to be a part of - it’s all about spreading knowledge of water safety and water rescue techniques. I’m also super proud of the progress we have made and of the formation of the Rincón Water Safety program, which stands as a testament to that dedication, proving that grassroots' initiatives can thrive independently and create lasting change within local communities.”
Celebrating Puerto Rico’s Unique Surf Culture
Puerto Rico's surf culture is a melting pot of influences, and Otto Flores has been a key figure in celebrating and preserving this heritage. There is a long line of talent that has been cultivated by this island's powerful and prestigious waves, producing icons like Jorge Machuca and the great Edwin Santos. Otto’s influence is also felt in the making of Puerto Rico as an incubator for a future generation of surfers like Rafi Llompart, Alberto Licha, Juan Ashton, and Jorge Nido. These young, up–and-coming, super stars all spent quality time in Otto’s presence in their formative years, which left a lasting impact.
Otto recalls, “Projects like ‘La Bruja’ were game changers. This particular documentary shined a spotlight on Puerto Rico's best surfers and iconic surf spots. It later became a stepping stone that opened up opportunities for me both at home and abroad. It is inspiring to witness the continuing evolution of surfing in Puerto Rico. I’m a true fan of surfers like Rolando Montes and Mauro Diaz, who took their own approach to surfing in a creative way without sacrificing performance. Their approach to waves of consequence is very unique. I feel this is a direct evolution of what I did but also what they did, each in his own signature way. Their individual surfing styles and execution will forge new paths, not only in the sport of surfing, but in its lifestyle as well. This path, I believe, when manifested accurately, can never expire. These legends will have their names go down in the annals of surf history.”
He continues, “I would love to see Puerto Rico’s surf culture continue to evolve in creative ways. I believe we need to celebrate the rich surf heritage that we have here and to educate our youth about the ocean through art, design and manufacturing. We have the hands and the talent. We also have a world class setting to breed the world’s best competitive surfers. Puerto Rico is unique in that it holds every wave scenario imaginable. It is our responsibility to give future generations of surfers the tools to generate their confidence to become the best. If we all work together towards this common goal, this island has all the right ingredients plus a spectacular Puerto Rican flavor to make it happen.”
“I would like to contribute more to Puerto Rico’s surf culture by creating a platform that exposes our unique surfing lifestyle and culture to the world. I have a concept for how to do this. Let’s just say it’s like a bird watching from a higher perspective.”
Family Life and Lifestyle Rooted in the Ocean
Today, Otto divides his time between Isabella and Carolina in Puerto Rico with his wife Andrea and sons, Maceo and Beau. Despite his many responsibilities, surfing remains a central part of his daily routine. “At this point, surfing is self-indulgence,” he admits with a smile. “It fuels everything I do, so I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon."
Balancing his family life with his commitments to advocacy, Otto finds great fulfillment in sharing his knowledge with the next generation of surfers. Whether it’s teaching water safety, mentoring young groms, or simply catching waves with his wife and kids, Otto continues to embrace the ocean with the same enthusiasm he had as a child. He says, “All our efforts now are to leave this place better for future generations, and it’s also my duty as a father to leave better kids for this world we live in.”
Having Fun While Protecting Our Oceans
For Otto, protecting and preserving our oceans doesn’t mean sacrificing fun. His philosophy is simple: Enjoy the waves while being conscious of the impact we have on them and our coastline’s beautiful surroundings.
Through work with organizations such as Parley for the Oceans, W4W and BWRAG, Otto always emphasizes the importance of community, education and action. “We have a responsibility to take care of our playground,” Otto reminds us. “Surfing gives us all so much and it’s only right to give back in any way that we can.”
Otto’s journey is a powerful reminder that a life-long passion can evolve into a purpose-driven mission. His efforts to protect Puerto Rico’s coastlines and empower its local communities highlight the connection between surfing, community and environmental stewardship.
“In Puerto Rico, we have a wave-rich playground and beautiful green spaces surrounding them that are worth protecting. If there is a message I would like to leave behind, it is to find creative ways to fall in love with the journey. Recognize what you are passionate about and create your own path to fulfillment. If there is one thing I am grateful for it’s that I was able to design everything I have done with surfing and the lifestyle surrounding it - both of which keep evolving.”
“To keep surfing while having fun is a lifelong goal. Exploring new surf spots with my son is a great new chapter that is starting to unfold. Conservation is something that I will always be passionate about. Plastic pollution, regeneration of mangrove forests and protection of public lands will always be at the top of my priority list. I understand that this path is not always going to be easy with many hurdles along the way, but little by little, by partnering with like-minded people who have experience, and by creating evolving strategies, I know that when we work together as a community, we can make a difference.”
