Houshmand and Brooks Rule Cloudbreak in Dramatic Fiji Pro Finals

Cole Houshmand and Erin Brooks won the Fiji Pro titles after a dramatic Cloudbreak event featuring perfect 10s, heavy surf and standout performances from Gabriel Medina and Kauli Vaast.

Houshmand and Brooks Rule Cloudbreak in Dramatic Fiji Pro Finals

Cole Houshmand and Erin Brooks emerged as the Fiji Pro champions after a dramatic Championship Tour event at Cloudbreak, where rising swell produced broken boards, heavy barrels and elite performances. Houshmand’s power surfing and Brooks’ relentless momentum carried them through a standout Finals Day in Fiji.

Key takeaways

  • Cole Houshmand won the men’s Fiji Pro title.
  • Erin Brooks claimed the women’s championship.
  • Cloudbreak delivered some of the event’s highest-scoring waves and most demanding conditions.
  • Kauli Vaast earned a perfect 10 before Gabriel Medina answered with a 9.33 in the quarterfinals.

The titles capped an event defined by rapidly improving surf and high-stakes heats. A building Pacific swell transformed Cloudbreak into a testing arena, with competitors forced to combine positioning, commitment and precision on powerful reef breaks.

Houshmand handles a pumping Cloudbreak

Houshmand secured the men’s crown after navigating a deep field that included former finalists and proven Cloudbreak performers. His quarterfinal victory over Yago Dora avenged their previous New Zealand Final meeting, with Houshmand’s power and timing proving decisive as the wave quality improved.

The men’s draw also featured major statements from Kauli Vaast, Connor O’Leary and Gabriel Medina. Vaast produced a perfect 10 and followed it with a 9.07 against Miguel Pupo, while O’Leary posted a 9.00. Medina later showed his extensive Fiji experience with a near-perfect 9.33 against Vaast in the quarterfinals.

Brooks continues her surge

Brooks carried her momentum through the women’s bracket to reach back-to-back Finals appearances and ultimately claim the championship. Her run included a decisive quarterfinal win over five-time world champion Carissa Moore, a result that underscored the teenager’s growing confidence in demanding conditions.

Isabella Nichols also secured a place in the final after a dramatic quarterfinal. She posted a 7.17 before suffering a heavy wipeout, then returned to the water and finished the heat despite the pain. Her resilience became one of the event’s defining moments.

Cloudbreak supplies a memorable finale

The Fiji Pro showcased why Cloudbreak remains one of professional surfing’s most respected venues. The rising swell intensified throughout the competition, producing critical barrels, punishing wipeouts and performances that reshaped the event’s narrative from heat to heat.

Houshmand and Brooks’ victories concluded a championship defined by opportunity and risk. As the Pacific swell continued to pulse across the reef, both champions proved capable of converting difficult conditions into the biggest results of the Fiji Pro.