Erin Brooks, progressing women’s surfing one wave at a time. Photo: Courtesy of Neon Wave
Erin Brooks is taking women’s surfing to new heights. At just 15-years-old, she is already one of the best aerialists and tube riders in the sport and is turning heads with her progressive surfing. She competed in the 2022 Padang Padang Cup, becoming the youngest person to ever participate and the only woman in the event. She won the 2021 Rip Curl Grom Search and a gold at the 2022 ISAs for team Canada. We caught up with Brooks between waves and asked how she first got into surfing, how she got so good at aerials, and her goals going forward.
How did you first get into surfing?
My parents retired young and our family moved from Boerne, Texas to the island of Maui in Hawaii when I was nine. The first week I was there a neighbor invited me to go to a surf lesson with some other kids. I immediately loved it and wanted to go back the next day. I had no idea what I was doing but just being outside in the ocean was so fun and it’s all I wanted to do from then on.
How were you able to progress so quickly?
I initially learned to surf at Uncle Bully’s surf school in Lahaina, Maui on a foam board. He quickly transitioned me to a shortboard and paired me up with a local pro named Luke Adolfson. Luke taught me everything from basic surf techniques like the proper pop up and how to duck dive. He also taught me about my equipment and most importantly, surf etiquette.
My family moved to the North Shore of Oahu when I was 10 and that is really when I started seeing the most improvement. There are so many amazing surfers on the North Shore who have helped me learn and encouraged me to push myself. I’ve been very fortunate to coach and train with Kahea Hart, Myles Padaca, and Shane Beschen when I’m at home on Oahu.
Coaches are important but you can’t improve if you don’t practice and work on the things they teach you. I try to surf at least twice a day and spend four to six hours in the water. I also try to work out or do some form of cross training everyday. I love surfing and training, so it’s very rare that I take a day off.
When did you first start competing?
I started doing amateur contests about a year after I learned to surf. I was terrible and usually lost in the first round but I just loved being at the beach and making new friends. Losing was hard but it just motivated me to work harder.
What are some of your proudest accomplishments over the years?
I have been more focused on freesurfing and working on improving than surfing in contests the last few years. So some of my biggest accomplishments have been personal like learning to be a better barrel rider or learning new aerials.
I was able to compete in some contests during my travels and some highlights were winning the Rip Curl National Grom Search, Stab High air contest in Costa Rica, Rip Curl Padang Padang Cup Women’s division and reaching the finals in the men’s division. I would say my greatest accomplishment to date is winning an ISA gold medal this last year in El Salvador. That was really special and something I will never forget.
What was it like to go pro at such a young age?
I think I signed my first contract when I was 11 years old. At the time all I really cared about was getting a sticker on my board that I had earned. I have a lot more sponsors now and I still get excited every time I put stickers on my boards.
I still have a hard time thinking of myself as a pro surfer. When I think of pros I think of people like Gabriel Medina, John John Florence, and Carissa Moore. I know how lucky I am to be getting paid to do what I love to do but to be honest, I don’t know how much and I don’t want to know until I’m older. I surf because I want to and because it’s fun. I dream of getting on the WSL Championship Tour and I don’t think I’ll really feel like a pro until I am competitive at that level.
What was it like being the youngest surfer and only female competing in the Padang Padang Cup?
I felt a lot of pressure before the Padang Padang Cup knowing I was going to be the youngest person to ever compete in the event and the only female in the men’s division. Some of my favorite surfers and mentors were in that contest like Mason Ho and Shane Dorian so I knew it was going to be a difficult contest. I knew a lot of people would be thinking why is this little girl here and if I lost early they would say I shouldn’t have been allowed in the contest.
The morning of the contest I went down early to the contest site and Shane Dorian and I paddled out in the dark hoping to catch a practice wave or two. I caught one of the best barreling waves of my life and came in feeling pretty good but still nervous. The rest of that day was just incredible. My dad and I had a plan to just focus on what I could control and that was to get on the best waves I could and take things one heat at a time.
I made my first heat and then my second heat and then things just started rolling and my confidence soared. I totally forgot who I was competing against and just focused on my surfing. I ended up winning the first ever women’s event and reaching the finals of the men’s event.
What was it like winning gold at the ISAs?
The ISA event was different than anything I’ve ever done. It was really cool to meet and compete with surfers from all over the world, but it’s a long contest and it was held at two totally different waves. I surfed numerous heats over a 10-day period to reach the final.
I definitely felt pressure because a Canadian had never won a medal yet alone won the event and I wanted to accomplish that for my myself and my team. I was really proud of my individual effort in that event and I was also proud of my teammates’ efforts. We combined to have the highest finish of any Canadian team in ISA history. I hope our performance will help to inspire other Canadians and to continue to grow the program into one that is competitive for years to come.
You seem pretty comfortable in heavy surf. How did you gain experience in bigger, heavier waves?
Our house on the North Shore of Oahu is very close to Sunset Beach, Pipeline, and few minute car ride to Haleiwa, so I’ve spent a lot of time surfing and training in heavy surf. I’ve also traveled to Kandui Villas in the Mentawais, Tahiti, and places like Pascuales to surf big, barreling waves. Needless to say that comfort level comes with a price and I have the broken boards and scars to prove it.
I had to learn to overcome my fear to be able to perform in heavy water and big waves. I spent a lot of time training to become a stronger and better paddler and also I’ve done a lot of breath work with Rafael Kroff at RK Training Hawaii. I’ve learned to stay calm under pressure and also to trust in myself. My Dad always tells me “hesitation leads to devastation.” That’s very true in heavy water. If you paddle for a big barreling wave you better catch it and pull in or you’re going to pay a heavy price and possibly get injured.
You’ve been getting a lot of attention for your aerial surfing. How have you become so good at aerials?
I get asked about aerials a lot and everyone thinks there is a secret. There are definitely ways to practice out of the water like trampolines and skateboards but the best thing to do is practice on your surfboard. Wave pools are a great place to practice too but they aren’t the same as landing airs in the ocean. I always tell people you have to be willing to fall a 1,000 times to maybe make one. Then a few hundred more times to make another one. The more you practice the better your make rate will be. I can do several different types of airs now, so my current challenge is to increase my make rate so I can feel confident to do them in contests.
Do you think aerials will become more common in women’s surfing?
I think women’s surfing is already becoming more progressive and aerials and riding larger barreling waves is definitely a part of that. Carissa Moore landed a great air in a WSL heat a year or two ago and I think we will continue to see more and more of that as the next generation joins the tour. Myself and my friends have been inspired by the pros who came before us and I hope we can inspire the next generation of girls around the world to push their limits in the air as well.
What do you hope to see in the future for women’s surfing?
I’ve only been around surfing for a few years now and in that short time I’ve watched the WSL give women equal pay and allow them to surf at the same contest sites as the men. I’m really grateful to all the women who came before me that worked to make that happen. I think it’s going to be my generations’ job to continue to push the level of women’s surfing and grow the sport. I really hope I can be a part of taking women’s surfing to that next level.
Are you hoping to qualify for the Olympics?
Surfing in the Olympics would be a dream come true and definitely something I aspire to do. Because of my parents’ ethnicities and where I was born I had the option of surfing for the USA, Canada, Germany, or Italy. The Canadian team felt like home to me so that made my decision easy.
Is there anyone that has served as a mentor or inspiration for you as a surfer?
I have had many mentors and coaches but the one who has been the most influential to me is Bethany Hamilton. Whenever I feel scared or like something is too hard or difficult to achieve I always think of Bethany. Her drive to overcome any obstacle and to never make excuses is inspiring and her work ethic is amazing. I have been able to travel with her and her family and I love them all. I feel very grateful to have her as a role model and she’s one of my favorite people to surf with.
What are your goals looking forward?
My goal is the same everyday. I want to do everything I can in and out of the water to be the best surfer I can be and I want to have the most fun possible while doing it. This year I want to continue working on my weaknesses and maximizing my opportunities. I have a lot I still want to learn before I try to compete full time. My longterm goals are to compete for gold medals in the Olympics and for world titles on the WSL Championship Tour.
