Erin Brooks, a 19-year-old surfer from Canada, clinched the Fiji Pro championship, marking her second consecutive victory on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour. The win came after Australian surfer Isabella Nichols withdrew from the final due to an ankle injury sustained during her semifinal match against Brisa Hennessy of Costa Rica.
Expressing her joy, Brooks stated, “I feel so amazing, I’ve just been having the best time these last two events.” She expressed disappointment for Nichols, whom she considers a sister, and wished her a speedy recovery, praising her performance in the previous events.
Brooks secured her first Tour victory in Fiji in 2024 as a wild-card entry, defeating Tatiana Weston-Webb of Brazil in the final and becoming the first Canadian surfer to win a CT event. In the recent Tahiti Pro competition, Brooks emerged victorious against Anat Lelior of Israel, making her the youngest winner of that event.
Following her back-to-back wins, Brooks climbed from 19th to eighth place in the global women’s rankings. Lionel F. Conacher, Surf Canada’s director-chairman, commended Brooks’ achievements, highlighting her success against top athletes and the growth of surfing in Canada.
Despite facing challenges with her citizenship status, Brooks persevered, eventually gaining Canadian citizenship in 2024. This citizenship issue limited her Olympic qualifying opportunities, leading her to miss the Olympic surfing competition in Tahiti.
During the Fiji Pro competition, Brooks impressed with a perfect 10-point ride in the opening round and went on to defeat strong competitors like Caroline Marks and Carissa Moore before claiming the title. With her confidence soaring, Brooks looks ahead to the next WSL event, the Lexus Trestles Pro in San Clemente, California, scheduled for September 11-20.
