Kiwi surfer Paige Hareb read to take on the world

Paige Hareb vows she won’t be toiling among the also-rans of the world’s 17 elite women surfers this year.

On the contrary — the Taranaki 18-year-old believes she can challenge for the world title within two years.

Hareb will dip her toes in the water for the first time on the women’s world tour at Coolangatta on the Gold Coast next month, the first of eight events in 2009 ending in the imposing waves of Maui, Hawaii, in December.

She had the distinction of becoming the first New Zealand woman to join the world tour, having begun surfing under the tutelage of her father Mike as a six-year-old at Oakura Beach, just outside New Plymouth.

“It’s only my first year and I’m not going to set my standards really high too soon, but I don’t want to be just another number on the tour either so I’ll definitely be going for it,” she said.

“First year I’m going to try and suss it out and get a feel for it, hopefully stay on the tour, then next year I’ll definitely be going for the world title.”

This week Hareb returned to Sydney’s Narrabeen beach where she finished runner-up in the world junior championships a year ago and put her name in lights.

She also won a world tour qualifying event at Perth’s Margaret River to help book a coveted spot on the tour a year earlier than she’d hoped.

Although she exited in the quarterfinals this week, her status as a surfing postergirl was clear. Action shots of blonde-haired Hareb in full flight adorned the promotional material on the walls of headquarters North Narrabeen Surf Club.

It’s all moved fast as sponsors clamour and a new, beefed up contract beckons. Hareb admits there’s financial security on the tour but she’s about to employ a manager to help devoted parents Mike and Fiona manage her affairs.

“You only get a shot at it once so I may as well try to get as much as I can.”

Exotic locations like Peru and her personal favourite — Rio de Janeiro — are on the world tour calendar this year. Hareb is always accompanied by one of her parents on her travels and isn’t averse to receiving a stern word if her focus wavers on the waves.

A sporting career always beckoned for Hareb, who would have pursued professional soccer otherwise. She caught the surfing bug early, competing with the boys for the best waves at chilly Oakura, but she was also a national soccer academy squad member at 14 and spent six weeks at the Wanaka skiing academy. The adrenaline rush of the waves and salt water won out.

Fearlessness and confidence are clearly two of the key Hareb gifts.

“I just surfed in Hawaii and you get some huge waves there and it’s a completely different experience from anywhere else in the world. You just have to do it, get on the big waves and just learn as you go.

“It’s a good kind of scared. If you make a big drop it’s just such a thrill. There are times you get wasted and held under. You just have to relax, and I’ve come up every time so far, so you just keep on going.”

There’s other dangers, although the thought of sharks is rare, even if junior rival Bethany Hamilton bears the scars. The American remarkably took to the board again just weeks after having her left arm torn off at the shoulder by a tiger shark in Hawaii.

“It’s always a risk but you probably have more chance of having a car crash so you don’t really think about it,” Hareb said.

It’s more her highly-rated rivals, including current world champion Stephanie Gilmore of Australia, who are the threats in the water.

Not that Hareb lacks belief after gaining a wildcard entry to last month’s prestigious world tour event in Maui, where she eyeballed Gilmore and claimed a decision over one of the world’s best.

“I beat the world No 2 Sofia Milanovich (from Peru) in one heat so that gave me a lot of confidence. I’m looking forward to this year and trying to beat them all.

“Stephanie and I did a one-on-one heat. It was just the two of us out on the water and it was a pretty cool experience. She beat me but it was great to be up against the best and see what I have to do.”

Another revered Aussie surfer, multiple world champion Layne Beachley, is Hareb’s inspiration. The veteran of almost two decades at the top level will be back again for selected world events next year.

“Layne’s definitely my biggest role model in surfing and in life. She’s been through so much and always positive and really cool to be around.”

There’s eight Australians and just a solitary Kiwi on this year’s world women’s tour but Hareb is happy to enter into the trans-Tasman banter.

She’ll be sure to fly the New Zealand flag, thanks to a gift from her sister, Rachel.

“My sister made me a cool towel for Christmas, a New Zealand poncho with a big silver fern on it. I wear that down the beach.

“We’re (New Zealanders) definitely not as patriotic as the Brazilians or Americans, but I’m trying to be.”