Costa Rican professional surfer who competes on the World Surf League Championship Tour and represented Costa Rica at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Born in Pavones, Costa Rica, on June 12, 1999, to a Hawaiian mother and Costa Rican father, Brisa Hennessy grew up immersed in surf culture from an early age. She began surfing at age four in the consistent waves of Pavones, one of the world's longest left-hand point breaks. Her multicultural background and upbringing in Costa Rica's Pacific coast region provided her with a unique perspective on competitive surfing, representing Costa Rica internationally while maintaining strong ties to Hawaiian surf traditions. Hennessy's professional career accelerated rapidly through the junior ranks, where she demonstrated the powerful, progressive surfing style that would become her trademark. She qualified for the World Surf League Championship Tour in 2020, marking a significant milestone as one of the few Central American surfers to reach the sport's highest competitive level. Her rookie season established her as a formidable competitor, combining technical precision with an innovative approach to wave riding that distinguished her from her peers. Throughout her Championship Tour career, Hennessy has maintained remarkable consistency, regularly advancing through multiple rounds and securing several semifinal and final appearances. Her surfing is characterized by powerful carves, progressive aerial maneuvers, and an ability to adapt to diverse wave conditions across the global tour. She has emerged as Costa Rica's most successful professional surfer and a prominent representative of Central American surfing on the world stage. Hennessy's impact extends beyond competitive results, as she has become an inspiration for aspiring surfers throughout Latin America. Her presence on the Championship Tour has elevated Costa Rica's profile in international surfing and demonstrated the potential for athletes from smaller surfing nations to compete at the highest level. Her consistent performances and professional approach have established her as one of women's surfing most respected competitors, representing a new generation of globally diverse professional surfers who bring fresh perspectives to the sport's elite level.
First Costa Rican surfer to compete on the WSL Championship Tour
How They Played
Progressive aerial surfing with strong rail work and commitment in powerful waves
Career Honours
- WSL Championship Tour Rookie of the Year 2022
- WSL Championship Tour Event Winner – Surf Ranch Pro 2022
- Pan American Games Gold Medal – Lima 2019
- ISA World Surfing Games Team Gold Medal 2021
- WSL Championship Tour Top 5 Finish 2022
- Olympic Games Competitor – Paris 2024
- ISA World Surfing Games Individual Silver Medal 2021