With a runner-up finish to Tahitian tube siren Vahine Fierro and a string of semifinals or better at every event except Portugal — where she was forced to withdraw with a busted eardrum — Brisa Hennessy left Tahiti wearing the WSL yellow leader’s jersey.

A season like that cannot be attributed to happenstance. Though we rarely get to see a surfer’s private efforts and struggles, in the first installment of Brisa’s new vlog, we get a glimpse behind her preparation for the Tahiti Pro.

Despite her experience at reef breaks graced by South Pacific groundswells, Brisa spent an entire month in Tahiti ahead of the event. In her corner were her mother, her Olympic coach Kahea Hart, and local liaison Tereva David, who was coaching her specifically for the event.

If the consecutive falls, fails, and reef scars seasoned with fresh lime don’t bring to mind the characters of Rick Kane in North Shore and Anne Marie in Blue Crush, perhaps the visible progression of Brisa’s backside tube technique over the episode will.

Starting with “the worst wipeout of my entire life”, Brisa keeps getting feedback from Hart, adjusts her approach, and packs a few bombs to the cheerful incentive of Carissa Moore, certainly helping build confidence and momentum.

When a big swell arrives, Brisa and Molly opt out and join the peanut gallery while Gilbert Teave and Eimeo Czermak steal the show. Robbo, Griff, and LOB also show an appetite for the square and heavy, and Balaram attempts to surf without a board. Tour Notes vibes.

The episode features an extensive highlight reel of downtime on the island. Brisa prepares a clam coconut curry with breadfruit from scratch, celebrates Mother’s Day, checks out coastal real estate opportunities, surfs fun and uncrowded Small Pass and not-so-uncrowded Papara, goes foiling with Erik Knutson, and ushers in a new generation of female chargers with the WSL Rising Tides program.

Hennessy’s evolution is apparent throughout the episode, and Tereva David’s tips proved to be game-changing in unlocking a part of her surfing that was there but left untapped. “Why haven’t I been doing this my whole life?” she said after figuring out an easier way to make barrels.

Sit tight for Part 2 and a much-needed behind-the-scenes look at the women’s tour. And Brisa, if you haven’t already, you should consider sending Tahiti Tourisme an invoice for this.