Erin Brooks Claims Victory at the Tahiti Pro
Nineteen-year-old Erin Brooks has claimed her first victory as a Championship Tour athlete, taking out the Tahiti Pro in a dramatic Finals Day at Teahupo’o.
In clean four-to-six-foot barrels, Brooks delivered a standout performance to overcome a challenging season and cement her name among the event’s past champions.
The victory marks another major milestone for the young Canadian, who previously claimed the 2024 Fiji Pro as a wildcard. Now a full-time CT member, Brooks entered Tahiti having struggled to make the later rounds throughout the season. Her breakthrough win sees her jump seven places to No. 11 in the rankings and puts her in a strong position heading into the final stretch of the year.
Brooks’ road to the final was anything but easy. After progressing through Round One against fellow teenager and Rip Curl team-rider Tya Zebrowski, she defeated five-time World Champion Carissa Moore before taking down defending Tahiti Pro winner and reigning World Champion Molly Picklum in the Quarterfinals.
A barrel-heavy Semifinal against close friend Isabella Nichols saw Brooks find her best form of the event, posting a 9.00, the equal-highest single-wave score of the women’s competition.
She carried that momentum into the Final against 2026 CT Rookie Anat Lelior, putting together the highest heat total of the women’s event with a 17.20 out of 20 to secure the win.
After a season of early exits, the victory was a major confidence boost for Brooks.
“I haven't had a win in so long, so it feels really good. The season has been really hard. I've kind of lost out in the second round of every event, so to get a win gives me so much more confidence, because I was almost doubting myself.”
At just 19, Brooks has already established herself as one of the most exciting young surfers on the Championship Tour. Her performance at Teahupo’o showed exactly what she is capable of when the waves turn on, combining composure, confidence and a fearless approach to some of the world’s most demanding barrels.
With the Tahiti Pro win under her belt, Brooks now heads into the remainder of the season with renewed confidence and plenty of momentum.
“We’re so proud of Erin and the resilience she’s shown after a tricky start to the season,” said Angus Forrest, Rip Curl’s Sports Marketing Manager. “She’s an exceptional talent, and we know there’s still so much more to come. We can’t wait to see what she does with the rest of her season.”
The Fiji Pro will take place from August 25 – September 4. Keep up to date via the WSL and @ripcurl socials.
