Coastal Roots: Brisa Hennessy's Surfing Success
Costa Rican surfer Brisa Hennessy achieved a notable third-place finish at this year's Hurley Pro Sunset Beach, progressing to the semifinals and accumulating 6085 points in the process. This accomplishment solidifies her position in the top 5 of the rankings. Brisa heads to Puerto Rico to join the Costa Rican national team for the ISA World Surfing Games this weekend.
Brisa Hennessy made history in 2022 as the first Costa Rican surfer to claim victory at the prestigious Hurley Pro Sunset Beach on Oahu's North Shore, accomplishing this feat at just 22 years old. Her journey to success is deeply rooted in her upbringing. Raised amidst the natural splendor of Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula, Brisa was surrounded by the wonders of nature and the Pacific Ocean from a young age. With parents who met in Hawaii and later settled in Costa Rica, her childhood was full of wildlife encounters, with monkeys and various fauna. Growing up by the ocean instilled in her a profound connection to the waves, sparking a passion for surfing that she inherited from her parents, who themselves are avid surfers running a local surf school.
Ranked as the impressive #4 on the World Surf League Championship Tour, Brisa Hennessy boasts an exceptional track record that includes securing two ISA World Gold Medals, clinching a Pan American Games Gold Medal, and proudly representing Costa Rica at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Among the must-visit areas she recommends for surfers in the country are Guanacaste, renowned for its offshore winds and remarkable dry season swells, and for beginners honing their skills, Playa Tamarindo stands out as a top choice.
Brisa competes in the fourth heat, after fellow Costa Rican surfer Leilani McGonagle. You can watch the event live on the isasurf.org website, or on the ISAsurfing YouTube Channel.
Photo 1 Rip Curl
Photo 2 WSL/Dorsey