Cloudbreak Builds Toward a Thrilling Fiji Pro Finish as Brooks Reaches Final

Erin Brooks reaches the 2026 Fiji Pro women’s final as Cloudbreak’s swell builds, while Houshmand, Fioravanti, Vaast and Medina headline the men’s remaining contenders.

Cloudbreak Builds Toward a Thrilling Fiji Pro Finish as Brooks Reaches Final

Cloudbreak is delivering the powerful, barreling surf expected at the 2026 Fiji Pro, with the event moving into its decisive stages. Erin Brooks has secured a place in the women’s final after eliminating Vahine Fierro and Carissa Moore, while Isabella Nichols will meet her for the title. The men’s quarterfinals remain loaded with major contenders.

Key takeaways

The Fiji Pro is approaching its conclusion with a strengthening swell and several high-stakes matchups still unresolved.

  • Erin Brooks advanced to her second consecutive Fiji Pro final.
  • Isabella Nichols edged Brisa Hennessy to join Brooks in the women’s final.
  • Cole Houshmand eliminated defending champion Yago Dora.
  • Kauli Vaast earned the event’s second perfect 10.
  • Surfline forecasts an even larger swell for September 2–4.

Brooks powers into another Fiji final

Teenage Canadian Erin Brooks continued her exceptional run at Cloudbreak by defeating five-time World Champion Carissa Moore in the first women’s semifinal. Brooks’ 11.84-point heat total was enough to overcome Moore’s 9.97 and extend her record of back-to-back Finals Day appearances in Fiji.

Her path included a narrow quarterfinal victory over Vahine Fierro, winning 11.10 to 10.67. Fierro attacked the wave repeatedly, but Brooks found the more efficient scoring combination and advanced by just 0.43 points.

Moore’s semifinal appearance nevertheless strengthened her World Title campaign. Her earlier quarterfinal win over Bettylou Sakura Johnson moved her into the world No. 1 position heading into the next Championship Tour stop.

Nichols survives a dramatic semifinal

Australia’s Isabella Nichols secured the other women’s final berth by defeating Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy, 10.67 to 10.50. Nichols opened strongly with a 7.17 before suffering an ankle injury during a late barrel attempt. She returned to the lineup and held off Hennessy’s closing challenge.

Nichols had earlier eliminated Yolanda Hopkins by capitalizing on her first scoring opportunities. Hennessy reached the semifinal after defeating Lakey Peterson, who could not match the Costa Rican’s committed barrel work.

Men’s draw opens after major upsets

Cole Houshmand produced one of the day’s biggest surprises, defeating defending Fiji Pro winner Yago Dora, 16.13 to 13.27. The all-goofy-foot matchup showcased Houshmand’s ability to combine powerful turns with deep tube riding, earning him the best result of his season so far.

Leonardo Fioravanti also advanced, defeating Callum Robson in the opening men’s quarterfinal. Fioravanti now has a major opportunity to strengthen his position in the World Title race, with many of the top-ranked surfers already out.

The remaining quarterfinals pit Connor O’Leary against Griffin Colapinto and Kauli Vaast against two-time Fiji winner Gabriel Medina. O’Leary eliminated world No. 1 Italo Ferreira, while Vaast posted a perfect 10 against Miguel Pupo in his first competitive appearance at Cloudbreak.

Forecast points to an explosive finish

Surfline expects the current southwest swell to produce six- to 10-foot faces, with the largest sets reaching double overhead. Conditions are forecast to ease slightly before another pulse arrives, while Friday could bring especially clean waves and light winds.

The biggest focus is the closing portion of the waiting period, September 2–4. Forecast confidence is building around a potentially larger swell than the event’s opening pulse, setting the stage for a dramatic finish at one of professional surfing’s most demanding venues.