Paige Hareb

VICTOR HARBOR, South Australia (Saturday, July 19, 2008) – Paige Hareb (NZL) made history at the inaugural ASP Grade-2 Men’s and ASP Grade-1 Women’s Fantastic Cup Pro Junior presented by Nippy’s today, claiming victory in South Australia for the first time in over ten years.

In perfect, offshore three-to-four foot (1-1.5 metre) conditions at Waitpinga, on the South Australian south coast, the finalists revelled in the grinding, left-handers as professional surfing returned to South Australia.

In the girls division it was New Zealander Paige Hareb who took the title, defeating current ASP World Junior Champion Laura Enever (North Narrabeen, NSW) in the final.

“I’m so stoked right now,” she said after claiming her second ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series victory of the year.

Attacking the left hand waves with her renowned powerful style, Hareb accrued a series of high scores throughout the entire event, showing her class.

“It was a bit slow in the final, so I just tried to remain patient,” Hareb admitted.

“I got off to a good start with a 7.5 (out of a possible 10) and it just flowed from there.”

Having had a bumper year in 2008, which so far includes two ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series titles and the ASP WQS 6-Star PRIME Margaret River Drug Aware Pro crown, Hareb is showing no signs of slowing down as she gears up for a busy campaign.

“I’ve had such a good year so far, I’ve been on a roll since coming second at the Billabong ASP World Junior Titles in February,” Hareb added.

“I’m off to Huntington Beach after this event then I’m following the ASP WQS (World Qualifying Series) through Portugal and France,” she said.

Currently ranked third on the ASP Australasia Pro Junior after her victory at Waitpinga, and on the ASP WQS Hareb is looking at finishing off the year in style.

“I just want to surf as well as I can in any event I in, right now my goal is to get as good a ranking as possible in the Junior’s and qualify for the ASP World Tour.”

Hareb found her way to the final via Kirstie Jones (Ulladulla, NSW), whilst Enever defeated Brit Nichol (Cabarita, NSW) in hotly contested semi-final affair.