Comment
Share
Posted on Monday December 28th 2009 at 10:37 a.m.
Tweet
Paige on her fronthand. Photo by Billabong / Jason Childs
The 19-year-old has just completed her rookie year on the ASP women's world tour which has taken her to exotic locations around the globe. But as she prepared for the last round of the series in huge surf off the Hawaiian island of Maui in early December she was already thinking of Taranaki.
"I've hardly been home all year so I am looking forward to Christmas and hanging out with family and friends," she said.
Late in November she was crowned Taranaki sportsperson of the year on the strength of her qualifying to join the elite open tour of 17 while still a junior.
"My best result was at Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast in the first round and that was a buzz," she said.
She had top 10 finishes in six of the seven events wrapping up the tour with a ninth placing. Her first year netted her $37,400 in prize money.
"I've been up and down but I retained my place on the tour for next year and that was one goal I set. The tour has been better than I expected. There are always the downs of all of the airports and missing home but overall I can't complain."
Having a hand in securing the April leg of the 2010 tour in Taranaki was a the highlight of her year. "I'm so proud of Taranaki. To have a world-wide event in my own home town will be amazing."
The reaction of some locals who were against exposing the Taranaki breaks to the outside world had disappointed her.
"I understand where they are coming from. I'm caught in the middle. I just have to take a step back and if it happens, it happens. I surf with them down the coast a lot and I get along with them really well so I don't want to disappoint them either."
The women on tour were all good friends. "We see each other at every event but there are no friends out on the water."
Hareb, the third youngest on tour, was looking forward to her Christmas/New Year break.
"I'll still surf. I don't think I could ever put the board away, it's just too much fun. But it will be my longest break all year."
Come mid-February she'll be back skimming breaks around the world as she attempts to chip away at the dominance of Australian Stephanie Gilmour.
By PETER BINGHAM - Taranaki Daily News