WSL surfer and Namotu local Brisa Hennessy is hosting her own women’s week
2024 has been a massive year for Brisa Hennessy. After an almost miraculous return to competition following her 2022 brain tumour diagnosis, Brisa spent much of 2024 on top of the WSL leaderboard, eventually finishing in 4th spot. She competed in the Olympics in Tahiti, reopened a lodge in Costa Rica with her family, and is now hosting her first women’s retreat on Namotu.
If you haven’t watched her mini doco on the Fiji Pro, you need to check that out immediately!
When Brisa came to us at the start of the year wanting to host a women’s week, I’ll have to admit we were sceptical. With less than a year to market it and around 70% of our usual guests being men, would she be able to balance competing on the tour with selling a niche trip? Would the pressure to find bookings create unnecessary stress? It soon became apparent that our worries were unfounded. The trip sold out within months and right now there are 24 happy women here enjoying the experience. At just 25, Brisa shows impressive mental (and physical) fortitude and somehow handles whatever life throws her way with grace and humility.
The Salty Goddess week is uniquely “Brisa”, bringing together wellness and self-development sessions with sound baths, hormonal health, yoga, surfing (of course), foiling, cooking and breath work. Many of the coaches and facilitators this week are part of Brisa’s support network and have helped her personally or professionally. Sharing her team, her family and her second home with her guests is all part of the experience.
Check out the page for more and keep an eye out for 2-25 dates.
Check out this article for more on Brisa’s journey through diagnosis and return to competition.