Ethan Ewing joins Jack Robinson and Molly Picklum in the World Surf League (WSL) Finals, with an impressive performance at the Fiji Pro. Meanwhile, teenage wildcard Erin Brooks stuns the competition in her Championship Tour debut, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event.
Australia is once again set to make waves in the World Surf League (WSL) Finals, with Ethan Ewing securing the nation’s third spot alongside Jack Robinson and Molly Picklum. The path to this achievement unfolded dramatically at the Fiji Pro, where Ewing’s powerful performance propelled him into the top five rankings, ensuring his place in the California one-day decider next month. The 25-year-old Queenslander’s journey to the Finals was marked by both skill and resilience, underscoring his status as one of the sport’s top contenders.
Ewing’s rise to the WSL Finals was cemented after a gripping showdown at Cloudbreak, where he outperformed Hawaii’s Barron Mamiya with a commanding 8.33 ride, bringing his total to 15.50 against Mamiya’s 9.97. This victory, coupled with Jack Robinson’s elimination of Brazil’s Yago Dora, elevated Ewing to the fourth spot in the rankings. This marks Ewing’s third consecutive year qualifying for the Finals, a remarkable feat considering he finished as runner-up last year to Brazil’s Filipe Toledo, despite battling multiple vertebral fractures.
Reflecting on his performance, Ewing expressed a mix of relief and determination. “I was getting through the heats but not really getting the good scores, so I felt like I put a bit more energy into that wave,” he said. “It feels good to get a bigger score and move through. Securing a spot in the Finals again feels amazing—this year has been a rollercoaster, and I’m just grateful to have another shot at the title.”
Jack Robinson, Australia’s Olympic silver medallist, also showed his mettle at Cloudbreak, edging out Dora in a closely contested quarter-final, winning 12.33 to 11.60. Despite his strong showing, Robinson fell short of reaching the final, losing to Griffin Colapinto. Colapinto, ranked second globally, went on to defeat Indonesia’s Rio Waida in the final, solidifying his own place in the WSL Finals.
As the competition intensified, it wasn’t just the seasoned pros making headlines. In a remarkable debut, 17-year-old Canadian wildcard Erin Brooks, coached by the legendary Kelly Slater, took the women’s event by storm. Brooks defeated top-ranked competitors, including Gabriela Bryan and world No. 1 Caitlin Simmers, before clinching victory against Molly Picklum in the semi-finals. She dominated the final with two seven-plus point waves, marking a stunning introduction to the Championship Tour.
Cloudbreak’s return to the tour after a seven-year hiatus brought back the raw, challenging conditions that define this iconic location. The 2025 WSL Finals will also see a change in scenery, with Cloudbreak set to replace Lower Trestles as the finals destination, promising another thrilling chapter in the world of competitive surfing.
For Ethan Ewing, Jack Robinson, and Molly Picklum, the stage is now set for an epic showdown in California, where the world’s best surfers will compete for the ultimate prize. With their sights firmly set on the title, these Australian surfers are ready to make history.
