Erin Brooks from Canada showcased her surfing prowess in Fiji, clinching the Fiji Pro title for the second consecutive time on Wednesday at the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour. The victory came as Australian competitor Isabella Nichols had to withdraw from the final due to an ankle injury sustained during the semifinals against Brisa Hennessy from Costa Rica.
Expressing her joy, Brooks stated, “I feel incredibly amazing, enjoying these past two events immensely. It’s unbelievable to secure back-to-back wins at the beginning of this year, which seemed impossible initially. I’m beyond thrilled.” She also expressed disappointment for Nichols, whom she regards as a sister, and hoped for a speedy recovery.
Brooks had previously made history in Fiji in 2024 as a wild-card entry, seizing her first Tour victory by defeating Olympic silver medallist Tatiana Weston-Webb in the final. This win also marked her as the first Canadian surfer to claim a CT event. In a similar fashion, she triumphed at the Tahiti Pro competition last month, becoming the youngest winner by defeating Israel’s Anat Lelior.
Following her consecutive victories, Brooks has ascended from 19th to eighth place in the global women’s rankings. Lionel F. Conacher, the director-chairman of Surf Canada, praised Brooks’ achievements, highlighting the remarkable progress of Canadian surfing on the world stage.
Born in Texas and raised in Hawaii, Brooks has familial ties to Canada through her American-born father and grandfather, who hails from Montreal. Despite facing challenges in obtaining Canadian citizenship, she successfully gained it in 2024. This process restricted her Olympic qualifying chances, leading her to compete at the ISA World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico instead.
At the Fiji Pro, Brooks commenced with a perfect 10-point ride in her opening round, achieving an 18.00 heat total against Sophie McCulloch from Australia. Notably, she became the third woman to secure a perfect score in Fiji, alongside Laura Enever from Australia and Carissa Moore from the United States. Brooks continued her winning streak by defeating Caroline Marks in the second round before overcoming Moore in the semifinals to reach the final.
With her recent victories, Brooks approaches the upcoming WSL event, the Lexus Trestles Pro in San Clemente, Calif., from September 11-20, with a strong sense of confidence.