Injured Nichols pulls out of Fiji Pro surf final

Australian surfer Isabella Nichols has pulled out of the Fiji Pro final because of her ankle injury, handing the win to Canadian Erin Brooks.

Nichols could barely put weight on her left ankle after wiping out near the end of the semi-final win over Costa Rican Brisa Hennessy.

Nichols said on Thursday, the day after the injury, she has a high ankle sprain and some ligament damage.

"It was unfortunate - I mean, I'm so stoked and I'm so stoked for Erin, a big congrats to her," Nichols said.

"It's just going to have to be one of those things that I play by ear. I can barely even stand on it at the moment.

"To surf a heat out there, especially with the size of the waves right now, I just feel like it's not a smart move for me - especially if I want to be back and strong for the next few events.

"It's all looking still very up in the air for me ... back home for some much-needed rest."

While the end was anti-climactic, it was still a banner event for Nichols and Brooks. The Canadian improved three places to eighth in the women's rankings and Nichols moved up one place to ninth.

Nichols, 29, enjoyed her best result this season and Brooks, 19, backed up from her win in the previous round at Tahiti.

"I feel like she was the most dominant surfer this whole week," Nichols said.

"I was excited to have a final with her, but to see her win ... back-to-back, I'm so happy for her.

Nichols also made the semi-finals in Tahiti, losing to Brooks, and said she has had the "craziest month of my life" after a below-par start to the season.

"I felt like my year was just slipping through my fingers. I became a bit pessimistic," she said before her Pacific rally.

Brooks did a victory lap at Cloudbreak on the back of a jet ski after the final was cancelled.