17-Year-Old Erin Brooks Makes History as First Canadian to Win a Championship Tour Event

San Clemente’s Griffin Colaptino Wins Big Ahead of Lexus WSL Finals

Rio Waida Becomes First Indonesian to Reach a CT Final

Tatiana Weston-Webb, Ethan Ewing, and Italo Ferreira Claim Last Spots for 2024 World Title Showdown at Lexus WSL Finals

17-year-old phenom Erin Brooks (CAN) has claimed a historical win today in Fiji as the event Wildcard. In the first CT appearance of her career, Brooks stood out from the start, posting the highest competition scores using her incredible frontside technique and tube riding.

Currently sitting at No. 4 on the Challenger Series rankings, Brooks is poised for CT qualification in 2025. By winning as a Wildcard today at one of the world’s most perfect yet challenging waves, she has shown she is more than ready to take on the world’s best. The teenager could be contending for the World Title next season when the CT returns to Fiji as the 2025 Finals location.

“I just feel so good, and I am so thankful for this win,” Brooks said. “I feel so thankful for the opportunity to even come to this contest and compete at a Wildcard. I was putting pressure on myself at the start, and I just needed to relax and have fun surfing with all my heroes. Everyone here was focusing on their Final 5 spots, and I just needed to focus on having fun and getting good waves.”

Weston-Webb took charge early in the Final, holding a slim lead for most of the heat, with both surfers banking mid-range scores with a series of fast snaps and carves. Then, with less than 10 minutes left, Brooks found a decent-sized set and took off, getting to work laying down a series of super-fast turns down the reef to earn a 7.34 (out of a possible 10), which gave her the lead and the first-ever WSL CT win for Canada.

“It was so cool to come up against Tati [Weston-Webb] in the Final,” Brooks continued. “As one of the only goofy footer girls on Tour, I’ve always looked up to her and to share a Final with her was so special. I’ll remember this day forever, and I can’t wait to make it on to the CT because this is just so much fun.”

Fresh off her Olympic Silver Medal win, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) delivered a clutch performance at Cloudbreak, advancing to the Final and clinching a spot in the WSL Final 5. Her impressive run through the draw propelled her from 7th to 5th on the rankings, earning her first Finals appearance of the season. Weston-Webb will now head to Lower Trestles to fight for the World Title for the third time in her career and the first time since 2022.

“I am grateful to make it,” said Weston-Webb after the Semifinals. “I feel just so happy, like I’m loving this whole experience. You know, I spoke to Jesse [Mendes] before my heat, and I was like, ‘You know what, I’m nervous.’ I woke up at 4 a.m. and couldn’t sleep. But I know that I can do it. So I just kept that confidence with me and, you know, trust in God’s plan for me and his will. What an honor to be a part of such a tenacious group of women. I think that this year has been so fun for women’s surfing, and obviously a special year for me getting a Silver Medal and now being in the Final 5. I just want to be able to keep surfing, have fun, and do my thing and I just wanna give God the glory.”

Griffin Colapinto (USA) will complete in the Lexus WSL Finals at his home break of Lower Trestles in two weeks as the No. 2 seed, thanks to his win today at the Corona Fiji Pro. The San Clemente local secured his fifth CT event victory today, defeating Rio Waida (INA) in both surfers’ first CT event in Fiji. For Colapinto, it was his second win of the season from three Finals appearances, capping off a stellar 2024 campaign.

“This means a lot to me,” Colapinto said. “With this being such a world-class wave and a lefthander, it gives me a lot of gratitude for all the training I’ve done in my life and all of the time I’ve put into my backside surfing. I wasn’t that confident about my backside, and I’ve worked on it a lot, so to win here surfing like this feels amazing. I’m feeling like I’m building now, and my surfing is in a good place, so I’m excited to head home and start planning for the Finals.”

The Final was a back-and-forth battle between two event standouts, both putting on solid performances with their impressive backside surfing. The lead changed several times over the entirety of the heat until Colapinto found one of the bigger, longer walls of the Final and got to work, belting a series of powerful backside snaps and going vertical to finish, earning a 6.13 for a two-wave total of 12.80 (out of a possible 20). Waida had one more opportunity to turn the heat, but the wave didn’t offer him enough, leaving Colapinto to claim the win.

“I was super psyched to share a Final with Rio [Waida],” Colapinto continued. “It’s his first CT Final, and he’s amazing. An amazing surfer and an amazing person, and I’m super excited to see what he does in the future. I want to thank all the fans who tuned in and cheered us on. The energy you send is why we do what we do, so please know that the love and energy come back to you. It’s a two-way street.”

A standout all-event, Rio Waida (INA) made history today, becoming the first Indonesian surfer to compete in a WSL CT Final. The 24-year-old has been on Tour for two years now, but 2024 has been a breakthrough season, with Waida ending the year sitting at 9th in the world. Hailing from the Island of Bali, known for its long perfect left-hand reef breaks, Waida looked right at home at Cloudbreak and aims to be back here next year in the Final 5, competing for Indonesia’s first surfing World Title.

“This is my first time here in Fiji, and I feel so at home,” Waida said. “The waves are so similar, and it really suits my surfing, so I’ve had so much fun. I’m so proud to make the Final, and of course, I want to win, but I’m so happy to finish second and do it for Indonesia. I’m so stoked to know I can compete at this level and finish in the Top 10. Now I know this, I want to aim to make the Final 5 and compete for a World Title next year.”

On his way to the Final, Rio Waida (INA) took down Australian Ethan Ewing (AUS) in the Semifinals in one of the most exciting heats of the event. Both surfers went back and forth, each earning excellent scores for their critical backside surfing, Ewing a 9.00 and Waida an 8.93. Eventually, Waida took the win, but the equal third-place finish was enough to lock Ewing into No. 4 on the rankings, giving him a spot in the Lexus WSL Finals.

“It feels amazing [to make the Final 5],” said Ewing. “This year’s just been, I don’t know, a lot of ups and downs. I felt like towards the end of this year, I was just holding on, and yeah, I’ve made a lot of mistakes in a few of the comps, but it feels good to secure that spot and just get another opportunity at a World Title.”

With Jack Robinson’s (AUS) win over Yago Dora (BRA) in the Quarterfinals, 2019 World Champion Italo Ferreira’s (BRA) spot in the Final 5 was locked in. The exciting goofy foot just managed to scrape through in fifth place, meaning he will compete again for the World Title at Lower Trestles in early September.

With the Corona Fiji Pro being the last event before the Lexus WSL Finals, the competitors and seed lists are locked for this World Title showdown. The top-ranked five men and five women on the CT rankings will battle in the one-day, winner-take-all competition at Lowers in San Clemente, California. The competition will run on the best day of waves between Friday, September 6, through Saturday, September 14, 2024.

WSL Final 5 Women
1 – Caity Simmers (USA)
2 – Caroline Marks (USA)
3 – Brisa Hennessy (CRC)
4 – Molly Picklum (AUS)
5 – Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)

WSL Final 5 Men
1 – John John Florence (HAW)
2 – Griffin Colapinto (USA)
3 – Jack Robinson (AUS)
4 – Ethan Ewing (AUS)
5 – Italo Ferreira (BRA)

For highlights from Finals Day at the Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Semifinal Results:
HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 11.90 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 9.10
HEAT 2: Rio Waida (INA) 16.26 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 15.17

Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy Men’s Quarterfinal Results:
HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 13.83 DEF. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.16
HEAT 2: Jack Robinson (AUS) 12.33 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 11.60
HEAT 3: Rio Waida (INA) 12.83 DEF. Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 11.27
HEAT 4: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 15.50 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 9.97

For more information, please visit WorldSurLeague.com.

About the WSL
The World Surf League (WSL) is the global home of competitive surfing, crowning World Champions since 1976 and showcasing the world’s best surfing. The WSL oversees surfing’s global competitive landscape and sets the standard for elite performance in the most dynamic playing field in all of sports. With a firm commitment to its values, the WSL prioritizes the protection of the ocean, equality, and the sport’s rich heritage, while championing progression and innovation.

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Day 2 Called ON at Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy

• Women’s Elimination Round to Start at 7:35 a.m. Fiji Time
• Men’s Round of 16 and Men’s and Women’s Quarterfinals to Follow
• Semifinals on Standby
• Watch LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com

After a strong start to the season, Johanne Defay (FRA) will be fighting for a spot in the Final 5. First, she’ll have to overcome Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) in Heat 2 of the Elimination Round as she also looks to lock in a spot in the Lexus WSL Finals.

Good friends and Day 1 standouts Griffin Colapinto (USA) and Seth Moniz (HAW) will go head-to-head in the first heat of the men’s Round of 16. After clinching his spot in the Lexus WSL Finals yesterday, Colapinto will be looking to secure the No. 2 seed, While Moniz will hope to finish off his 2024 campaign with a bang at Cloudbreak.

Olympic silver Medalist Jack Robinson (AUS) will need to get past Connor O’Leary (JPN) in Heat 3 of the men’s Round of 16 if he’s to clinch a WSL Final 5 spot for the third consecutive year.

Watch the Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.

Fresh from claiming a Bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Tahiti, three-time World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) stole the show on Day 1 of competition at Cloudbreak. He posted a 17.67 two-wave total (out of a possible 20) that included a 9.17 (out of a possible 10) for a super deep, long tube ride. Medina needs a massive result at this event, as he currently sits in 8th place on the rankings. With only three places left in the Lexus WSL Finals, the Brazilian is mathematically still in the mix.

“Yeah, that was a fun heat. The waves are just coming on my way. So it feels good to just surf, you know,” said Medina. “It’s a good feeling when you go through a wave, and then this one just comes like a perfect wave. So it’s good.”

Yago Dora (BRA) had the tough task of taking on Cloudbreak specialist and event Wildcard Kelly Slater (USA) in the Elimination Round. Slater, a four-time winner in Fiji, was looking to do damage to the Final 5 race, but Dora had other ideas. Dora found a solid rhythm with the lineup and put himself on a number of perfect set waves, earning a 16.83, which included a 9.33, the highest single wave score of the event so far.

“I feel like I grew into a really good surfer now, and back then, I was learning the ropes. I was really good in the air, but I had a lot to improve. Now I feel like I’m more of a complete surfer,” said Dora. “I would never expect something like that to happen, beating Kelly at Cloudbreak, the greatest of all time, overall, but also out here, and yeah, it’s an honor.”

World No. 1 John John Florence (HAW) claimed an impressive heat win this morning to progress into the Round of 16. Florence used turns and tubes to earn an impressive two-wave total of 15.57. His highest single-wave score of 7.40 came from a super long, technical backhand tube ride.

“The plan at the beginning of the year is to try to be at Lowers with the No. 1 seed,” said Florence. “So to have it this early on and just be able to enjoy this event now and start thinking about Lowers is pretty cool.”

Caitlin Simmers (USA) came into today wearing the yellow Leader jersey and needing a heat win to progress into the Round of 16 to secure the No. 1 seed for the upcoming Lexus WSL Finals. Her Opening Round heat didn’t get off to the best start as she was left trailing young gun and event Wildcard Sierra Kerr (AUS). Late in the heat, Simmers found a double-up set wave and pulled into the barrel, travelling long and deep before disappearing into the foam. Then, miraculously, she reappeared, making the barrel and earning a mid-range score to take the lead and the heat win. With the win, she has guaranteed the No. 1 seed at Trestles next month as she looks to earn her maiden World Title. This means that Simmers could win the World Title in a best-of-three match in the one-day Lexus WSL Finals.

“Lowers is a super fun wave and it’s kind of a ridiculous life situation to be in,” said Simmers. “So I just try not to think about it at all. I’ll just think about my next heat, and hopefully, we get fun waves.”

San Clemente local Griffin Colapinto (USA) will once again compete for a World Title on home soil after clinching a spot at the Lexus WSL Finals with his Elimination Round win today. Colapinto had a shaky start to his heat against Fiji Trails winner Tevita Gukilau (FJI) but eventually found his feet, posting an impressive 8.17 for a series of huge critical turns, winning the heat with a total of 14.94.

“It means everything. I just put so much into the sport, and my whole life has been, you know, going towards what I’m doing now. So just soaking it in,” said Colapinto. “Now I can just be free and really, really enjoy this time on Tavy [Tavarua] and take that weight off my shoulders.”

Caroline Marks (USA) has been incredibly successful over the last 12 months. The 22-year-old claimed her maiden World Title and then backed it up with an Olympic Gold Medal in Tahiti just a few weeks ago. Marks now has the opportunity to add more silverware to the list as she clinched her spot in the Final 5 and will now contest for back-to-back World Championship Trophies at her home break of Lower Trestles next month.

“It’s amazing. I have the chills. Wow. I’m really stoked. That was a huge goal of mine to be able to defend my title,” said Marks. “I feel like I’m coming off a really big high after winning the Gold at the Olympics, but I still feel like there’s work to be done this year. So, two really massive goals this year. I got one done and one more to go. I’m just really honored to have the chance again in front of my hometown.”

It was a clutch day for most competitors in Final 5 contention, with all but Jordy Smith (RSA) progressing into the Round of 16 on the men’s side. CT veteran Smith struggled to find a rhythm in the afternoon shifting conditions, going down to Imaikalani de Vault (HAW) in Heat 5 of the Elimination Round.

Earlier in the day, Top 5 surfers Italo Ferreira (BRA), Jack Robinson (AUS) and Ethan Ewing (AUS) all progressed into the Round of 16 with heat wins during the Opening Round. With all 5 competitors in the Top 5 progressing, the race is becoming tighter for the likes of Gabriel Medina (BRA), Yago Dora (BRA), Jake Marshall (USA), Rio Waida (INA) and Crosby Colapinto (USA), who all sit outside the Top 5 but are still in contention if they advance past the Round of 16 when competition resumes.

Australians Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright Shine on Day 1 at Cloudbreak 

After a strong start to the season, Molly Picklum (AUS) has struggled to progress past the Quarterfinals in the back half of the year, meaning she needs a solid result here to guarantee her spot at the Lexus WSL Finals early next month. Picklum got her campaign off to a great start today, claiming a heat win with a single wave score of 6.67 that she earned for a massive, committed backside snap on a huge critical section.

Although she is out of Final 5 contention, two-time WSL Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) put on one of the best performances of the day, posting the highest two-wave total of the women’s Opening Round with a 12.00. Wright’s performance was even more impressive as she took down Cloudbreak standouts Brisa Hennessy (CRC) and Johanne Defay (FRA). Hennessy will take on Sierra Kerr (AUS) in the Elimination Round, while Defay comes up against Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW).

For highlights and more information about the Corona Fiji Pro Presented by Bonsoy, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.