Erin Brooks’ performance in Surf Abu Dhabi Pro
Canadian teenager Erin Brooks put on an impressive display at the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, advancing to the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Australia’s Molly Picklum. Brooks, who has been making waves on the international surfing scene, showcased her technical skills and fearless approach in the artificial wave pool competition.
Throughout the early rounds, Brooks demonstrated her ability to adapt to the unique conditions of the state-of-the-art facility, executing sharp turns and powerful manoeuvres that earned her solid scores from the judges. Her consistency and aggressive style helped her progress through the heats, defeating several experienced competitors along the way.
In the quarterfinal matchup against Picklum, Brooks started strong, landing a series of well-timed carves and aerial attempts. However, Picklum’s experience and precision ultimately gave her the edge, as she posted higher scores with a combination of critical turns and seamless transitions. Despite the loss, Brooks’ performance reinforced her status as one of the most promising young surfers on the World Surf League circuit.
Following her exit from the event, Brooks expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to compete at such a high level and acknowledged the challenge of facing top-ranked surfers. She remains focused on improving her technique and gaining more experience as she continues her journey in professional surfing.
World Surf League season standings update
With her quarterfinal finish at the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, Erin Brooks now sits in ninth place in the World Surf League (WSL) season standings. The result marks another step forward in her young career, as she continues to establish herself among the world’s best surfers. While she was unable to advance past Molly Picklum in Abu Dhabi, her consistent performances throughout the season have kept her in contention for a strong overall ranking.
The WSL season standings remain highly competitive, with only a few hundred points separating several surfers in the top ten. Brooks’ ability to secure solid results in multiple events has been crucial in maintaining her position, and with several key competitions still ahead, she has the opportunity to climb even higher in the rankings. Her aggressive approach and technical precision have made her a formidable competitor, and she will be looking to build on her momentum in the upcoming contests.
At the top of the leaderboard, Australian surfers continue to dominate, with Molly Picklum and Tyler Wright both in the hunt for the season title. Picklum’s victory in Abu Dhabi has strengthened her position among the frontrunners, while Wright’s experience and consistency keep her within striking distance. With the season progressing, the battle for the top spots is expected to intensify, making every heat crucial for those aiming to qualify for the WSL Finals.
For Brooks, maintaining her place in the top ten will require strong performances in the remaining events. As she gains more experience competing against the world’s best, her confidence and skill set continue to grow. With her fearless approach and ability to adapt to different conditions, she remains a serious contender in the WSL rankings.
Molly Picklum’s path to victory
Molly Picklum’s path to victory at the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro was marked by a series of dominant performances, showcasing her ability to adapt to the artificial wave conditions and execute high-scoring manoeuvres under pressure. From the opening rounds, Picklum displayed a combination of power and precision, consistently posting some of the highest scores of the event.
In the early heats, Picklum’s aggressive approach set her apart from the competition. She utilised deep bottom turns to generate speed and linked them seamlessly into critical top turns, impressing the judges with her flow and control. Her ability to read the wave pool’s mechanics allowed her to maximise scoring opportunities, putting her opponents on the back foot from the outset.
Her quarterfinal matchup against Erin Brooks was one of the most anticipated heats of the event. While Brooks started strong, Picklum responded with a series of well-executed combinations, including a powerful layback snap and a cleanly landed air reverse. Her ability to mix progressive and traditional manoeuvres gave her the edge, securing her a spot in the semifinals.
In the semifinals, Picklum faced off against fellow Australian Tyler Wright in a tightly contested battle. Wright, a seasoned competitor with multiple world titles to her name, pushed Picklum to elevate her performance. Picklum responded with a near-perfect ride, executing a series of vertical snaps and a critical finishing move that earned her one of the highest scores of the event. Her victory over Wright cemented her place in the final and demonstrated her ability to perform under pressure.
The final saw Picklum take on American standout Caroline Marks, who had also been in top form throughout the event. The matchup was a showcase of high-performance surfing, with both athletes pushing the limits of what was possible in the wave pool. Picklum’s strategic wave selection and precise execution proved decisive, as she posted back-to-back excellent scores to take control of the heat. A perfectly timed aerial manoeuvre in the closing minutes sealed her victory, earning her the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro title.
With this win, Picklum not only solidified her position in the WSL season standings but also sent a strong message to her competitors. Her ability to adapt to different conditions and deliver under pressure makes her a serious contender for the world title as the season progresses.
Erin Brooks’ performance in Surf Abu Dhabi Pro
Canadian teenager Erin Brooks put on a solid performance at the Surf Abu Dhabi Pro, carving her way through the competition before bowing out in the quarterfinals. Up against Australia’s own Molly Picklum, Brooks gave it a red-hot crack but couldn’t quite get the scores she needed to advance.
The waves at Surf Abu Dhabi’s state-of-the-art wave pool were firing, offering up clean, mechanical walls for the surfers to showcase their skills. Brooks, known for her aggressive turns and fearless approach, looked sharp in the earlier rounds, locking in some solid scores to make it to the final eight.
But when it came to the quarters, Picklum was in fine form, throwing down a combination of power and precision that left Brooks chasing. Despite her best efforts, the young Canadian couldn’t find the high-scoring waves she needed to turn the heat in her favour.
Still, making it to the quarterfinals in a stacked field is no small feat. Brooks continues to prove she’s got the talent to mix it with the world’s best, and with plenty of events left in the season, she’ll be looking to bounce back stronger.
World Surf League rankings and standings
With her quarterfinal finish in Abu Dhabi, Brooks now sits ninth in the World Surf League season standings—an impressive spot for the young Canadian as she continues to make waves on the tour.
At just 16, Brooks is already proving she belongs among the world’s best. The rankings are tight, with only a handful of points separating the top contenders, and every heat counts as the season rolls on. Sitting inside the top 10 puts her in a strong position, but with heavy hitters like Picklum, Carissa Moore, and Tyler Wright in the mix, the battle for a higher ranking is only getting tougher.
Australia’s own Molly Picklum, who knocked Brooks out in Abu Dhabi, is currently sitting near the top of the leaderboard, showing the kind of consistency that makes her a serious world title threat. Meanwhile, Brooks will be looking to climb the rankings with strong performances in the upcoming events.
With plenty of contests still to come, including stops at some of the world’s most iconic surf breaks, there’s no doubt Brooks will be throwing everything at it to crack the top five. If she keeps up her aggressive, go-for-broke style, she could be a real dark horse as the season heats up.