The Rodríguez Brothers and a Different Way to Surf Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is often referred to as the Hawaii of the East Coast in terms of wave power and size, the swells can pack a punch. One thing unlike Hawaii though is that Puerto Rico doesn't have a strong longboarding culture like you would find on any day in Waikiki and throughout the islands.

For Zahid Rodríguez, short boarding was all he knew until one day when he broke his board and was handed a single-fin longboard--something just clicked. "For me, longboarding makes sense. But for most people here on the island of Puerto Rico, in general, that's not really a thing. They think it's crazy to paddle out here on a nine-foot plus traditional longboard with no leash."

Filmed by TJ Thran, Emma Limburg, and Harold Lorenzo over the course of five days in Puerto Rico in December 2025, Los Hermanos Rodríguez chronicles Zahid, Yerén, and Cay Rodríguez as they surf, skate, and share their story of living in and growing up in Puerto Rico. Zahid adds, "Over the years so many people thought what I was doing was just crazy, they really didn't get it.

Cay, the youngest, benefitted from his intrepid siblings shares that, " I like being a little brother, you know? My brothers are really inspirational. They got me surfing, they got me skating. They taught me so much along the way."

For Yéren, who's music is featured in the film, says that's another way to express himself in the moment, "You can pick up any instrument and what you're feeling in the moment is what's going to come out. When it comes down to surfing, style is really important, especially with longboarding. You have to be comfortable in the moment. You don't have to be good, you just have to be comfortable to have good style."

Zahid speaks to the beauty and delicate nature of the island, "The beaches here are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen but I think we need to be more mindful overall. We have to conserve and protect our coasts, because our reefs are disappearing. We want to be able to continue enjoy what we have here today and protect it for the future."

Related: Finders Keepers: One Week on the North Shore with Dark Seas