Canadian surfer Erin Brooks has turned a breakthrough summer into a statement of intent, claiming her second consecutive World Surf League Championship Tour victory at the Fiji Pro.
After winning the Tahiti Pro in mid-August, Brooks returned to the South Pacific and delivered another commanding performance at the legendary Cloudbreak reef. Her run included a perfect 10 in her opening heat, victories over former world champions and a final-round display that confirmed her arrival among the sport’s leading contenders.
The result moves Brooks three places up the 2026 Championship Tour rankings to eighth, giving the 2024 Fiji Pro wildcard winner a remarkable second victory at the same venue.
A Perfect Start at Cloudbreak
Brooks wasted no time establishing her presence in Fiji.
Facing Australian Sophie McCulloch in her opening heat, the Canadian produced a wave worthy of a perfect 10 from the judges. The score set the tone for a campaign built on speed, commitment and the ability to find opportunity in Cloudbreak’s powerful reef breaks.
Her next challenge was 2023 world champion and reigning Olympic champion Caroline Marks.
Brooks opened strongly with a 7.83 before adding another decisive wave to secure an 10.83 to 6 victory over the American. It was a performance that showed the Tahiti Pro champion was not simply riding the momentum of a first CT win—she was building something more substantial.
Confidence Without the Pressure
The psychological shift behind Brooks’ form has been just as important as her surfing.
Winning in Tahiti removed the pressure of chasing her first Championship Tour victory. At Cloudbreak, she was able to approach each heat with the confidence of a surfer who had already proved she belonged at the highest level.
“That win in Tahiti took so much pressure off and allowed me to go out there and surf the way I wanted to,” .
Brooks explained
That freedom translated into another exceptional performance.
Her quarter-final against France’s Vahine Fierro was decided by a narrow 11.10 to 10.67 margin, with Brooks relying on a strong opening wave to edge through. In the semi-finals, she faced five-time world champion Carissa Moore and held her nerve late in the heat, posting a 7.67 to secure her place in the final.
The run was not built on a single spectacular ride. It was a demonstration of consistency, confidence and the ability to deliver when the pressure returned.
A Win Shared With Isabella Nichols
Brooks’ victory was tempered by the injury suffered by Australian Isabella Nichols, who was forced to sit out the final after hurting her ankle during a dramatic semi-final win over Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy.
Nichols had fought through the draw to reach the final, but the injury brought her campaign to an abrupt end.
For Brooks, the result carried an emotional weight beyond the trophy.
“I’m honestly so bummed for Isabella. I love her like a sister, and I really wanted to share a Final with her,” .
she said
The moment highlighted the complicated reality of professional surfing. Victory can arrive alongside disappointment, and the same heat that delivers a career milestone can also end another surfer’s chance at one.
A New Chapter for Canadian Surfing
Brooks’ Fiji Pro victory is her second at Cloudbreak, following her historic 2024 wildcard win—the first Fiji Pro victory by a Canadian surfer.
Now, with two CT wins in consecutive events, she has moved into the top 10 of the 2026 rankings and established herself as a serious threat heading into the next stage of the season.
“I can’t believe that I got two back-to-back wins. That just seemed impossible at the beginning of the year,” .
Brooks said
Her next stop is the Lexus Trestles Pro in California, running from September 11 to September 20. Brooks is already looking forward to returning to the venue, where she has friends and family waiting.
“I love it there. I’m so excited to go to Lowers.”
she said
Men’s Event: Fioravanti and Colapinto Reach the Semi-Finals
The men’s Fiji Pro also produced a strong showing from Leonardo Fioravanti and Griffin Colapinto, who both reached the final four.
Fioravanti advanced through the quarter-finals with a 14.10 to 10.94 victory over Australia’s Callum Robson. His campaign ended in the semi-finals against American Cole Houshmand, who went on to defeat Gabriel Medina in the final for his third WSL victory.
Colapinto reached the semi-finals after impressive wins over Indonesia’s Rio Waida, Brazil’s Samuel Pupo and Japan’s Connor O’Leary. However, Medina proved too strong in their last-four clash, posting scores of 9.77 and 9.27.
The result moves Colapinto up two places to sixth in the rankings, while Fioravanti remains second behind Brazil’s Ítalo Ferreira.
For Brooks, though, the Fiji Pro was another step toward establishing herself as one of the most dangerous surfers on the Championship Tour.
Two wins in a row. A perfect 10. And a growing belief that the best may still be ahead.
