1) do you want to just surf "bigger" waves?

2) or do you want to be a full charger?

If the latter, then yes it's prob time to relocate like others have said unless you have pockets and schedule to chase and spend time a big wave venues....

If the former, start by taking trips to get some serious waves.... (ex: North Shore instead of Brosta Rica, etc) and get some legit boards

If you're a solid surfer and in pretty good physical shape, it's mostly mental.... I wish I was 26 again

There's a guy on the North Shore. He hangs out near the shaved ice place in Haleiwa. His name is Turtle. He'll point you in the right direction.

There's a guy on the North Shore. He hangs out near the shaved ice place in Haleiwa. His name is Turtle. He'll point you in the right direction.

There's a guy on the North Shore. He hangs out near the shaved ice place in Haleiwa. His name is Turtle. He'll point you in the right direction.

There's a guy on the North Shore. He hangs out near the shaved ice place in Haleiwa. His name is Turtle. He'll point you in the right direction.

Sorry for the multiple replies. Glitch on my wifi.

The latter. I thought about relocating but I wanted to train here and then book it to PR the next time they get an XL swell - I hear a lot how Tres is the 'gateway' big wave in terms of getting into proper big wave charging.

I'm sure theres people here that make spontaneous trips to PR in order to charge XL swells, so I was hoping someone could take me under their wing and show me the ropes. Obviously, I would be training and what not under my own, but I feel like that mentorship would be a game changer.

Yes, you can definitely hope on JetBlue to chase big swells (I've done it... only time Ive been to PR actually.... took serious doughnuts at Tres for the amusement of others)*

but to be honest... that's not a good way to get comfortable.  You have to be able to work your way up to it, and it definitely takes repetition.  Those types there just happen sporadically, so it's pretty hard to be in a "comfort zone" (if there is such a  thing)... you'd need to spend some time there.

The quickest route  is to really plan on some time on the North Shore... You can train your body anywhere, when it comes to mind and surf skills....hard to "Train" for big waves without big waves 

There are some chargers in FL, but I'm pretty sure most have spent serious time (or lived) in areas that get legit waves... (sans the pro level guys that just have the pure skills)

While I've surfed some bigger waves, I'm NOT a big wave a charger... but I did stay at a Holiday Inn express

* I've "surfed" Tres once (mostly just got cleaned up multiple times) but I'll say it's less intimidating than Sunset for sure (sans the freak XXL days that happen on a once a decade basis)  That was my only time in PR.  Been to North shore prob 8 or 9 times.... going again next week