Erin Brooks from Canada excelled in the waves of Fiji, clinching the Fiji Pro title for her second consecutive victory on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour. Brooks secured the win after Australian surfer 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 elation, Brooks shared, “I feel incredibly grateful for the amazing experiences in these past two events. Winning back-to-back titles at the beginning of this year seemed impossible, but now I am overjoyed.” She also expressed disappointment for Nichols, stating, “I love her like a sister and had hoped to share the final with her. I wish her a speedy recovery.”
Brooks made history in Fiji, where she had previously emerged as a wild-card entry in 2024, securing her first Tour victory by defeating Tatiana Weston-Webb of Brazil in the final. This victory also marked her as the first Canadian surfer to claim a CT event. Following her recent win at the Tahiti Pro competition in Teahupo’o, Brooks emerged victorious against Israel’s Anat Lelior, becoming the youngest surfer to win the event.
With her consecutive wins, Brooks has climbed from 19th to eighth place in the global women’s rankings. Lionel F. Conacher, Surf Canada’s director-chairman, praised Brooks, stating, “Erin’s consecutive victories in Tahiti and Fiji mark a remarkable achievement for Canadian surfing, showcasing her exceptional talent and the sport’s growth in Canada.”
Although born in Texas and raised in Hawaii, Brooks has strong Canadian ties through her father, Jeff, who holds dual American-Canadian citizenship, and her Montreal-born grandfather. Despite facing challenges in obtaining Canadian citizenship, Brooks was successful in gaining it in 2024. Her Olympic qualifying opportunities were limited to the ISA World Surfing Games in Puerto Rico, where she narrowly missed out on qualifying for the Olympics held in Tahiti.
Brooks kicked off the Fiji Pro with a perfect 10-point ride in her first-round heat against Sophie McCulloch from Australia, finishing with an impressive 18.00 heat total. Throughout the competition, she showcased her skills, defeating renowned surfers like Caroline Marks and Carissa Moore to secure her spot in the final.
With her confidence riding high after back-to-back victories, Brooks looks forward to the next WSL event, the Lexus Trestles Pro scheduled in San Clemente, California, from September 11-20.