Paige Hareb

Turning A New Paige

By Lynne Dickinson

Images by Steve Dickinson

For most teenage girls the reality of life means getting up each morning to go to school. In between school there are commitments like part time work, studying for exams and if you are lucky a little bit of time left over to do the things you really love, like surf. Most of us can’t even begin to imagine what life would be like if you could just do the things you really loved and be paid for it. One person living that dream is Taranaki teenager, Paige Hareb.

Being a Kiwi and surfing at an international level has meant a great deal of travelling for Paige. This year alone she has visited over 10 different countries as a result of her surfing, a lifestyle most of us can only dream about. I caught up with Paige on our recent trip to the Maldives, where we spent ten days on board the surf charter boat, the Asmas. For those of you who have met Paige, it is easy to see why she is proving to be such a successful international surfer.

Watching Paige surf falls into two very clear categories; at a competitive level she is focused, calm and powerful. Her signature lip smack and flicking blond ponytail have left numerous opponents in her wake. She has her competiton focus down pat, a clear game plan knowing when to push, when to get just a bit more out of the wave but without going for the big glory move that does not always work out.

Then there is her free surfing where her free spirited comical side comes out. You are just as likely to get a roar and bear hug as she passes you as you are to be sprayed by a slashing cut back. She is a physical surfer, although mixed with grace and an obvious feminine touch. When free surfing she pushes everything and everyone around her just a little harder, often I have seen her practicing the same move over and over until she gets it right. Her powerful build and solid stance generates a very powerful surfing style, one that is obviously successful.

Spending ten days in the close confines of the boat allowed for me to really get to know Paige, and get some insight into what makes this teenage surfing sensation tick…

Home and Family

Paige grew up in Taranaki and lives in the small beach town of Oakura. She is the youngest member of her family and has an older brother Levi (22) who is a geologist in Australia and her sister Rach (24) who also lives in Oakura with her fiancé, Aaron. Mum, Fiona, and dad, Mike, are huge supporters of Paige’s surfing and both have spent a great deal of time ferrying Paige to competition after competition. This trip to the Maldives was the first time Paige had travelled overseas without a member of her family. “I have had to be more organised without having mum here, but it’s been good having Lynne instead. I am sure mum will be finding it harder without me rather than me without her.” To be honest, I would not have guessed, as Paige managed pretty well with all the organisation and transitions along the way. “On my last trip back from Bali I left my bag on the x-ray machine. I was sitting in the departure lounge when my name was called over the loud speaker and I had left my backpack with all my money, passports, credit card etc at the counter.” I can see why her mum may have been worried.

Learning to Surf

Paige started surfing when she was around 6 years old. Her dad was a surfer and brother Levi an excellent body boarder so learning to surf was a given. Taught by her dad Mike she joined the Oakura Boardriders Club where she competed in the local comps. “My first national competition was in the Primary School National Surf comp where I surfed against Airini Mason.” Paige won that competition and they have been head to head rivals ever since.

Surfing in NZ

Growing up in Taranaki has meant there is pretty much every type of break available to Paige and this has no doubt had an affect on her surfing ability. The thing Paige loves about Taranaki is you can surf and ski in the same day and despite the cold water it does have its up sides. Braving the cold in NZ and the restrictions of wearing a winter wetsuit can only make surfing warmer waters easier. “The thing that I love and hate is the cold water and thick wetsuits. Cause when I go over to Aus and compete without a wetsuit it just seems that much easier and not as hard to get motivated.” Taranaki and most of NZ still have waves as good as anywhere else in the world, yet there are no crowds, one of the joys of surfing in NZ. Paige’s favourite break at home is Rocky Point, “a really fun left hander.” And overseas, “Lakey Peak” in Sumbawa.

Media Attention

Prior to our trip to the Maldives, Paige had received her fair share of media attention. The day before we flew out she had appeared on TV1 morning news programme, Breakfast, interviewed by Studio Two and The Crowd Goes Wild; quite a lot of media attention for someone only 17 years old. Paige is not overly phased by such attention. “Just this year it has gotten way bigger, with three TV shows in one go it was really like being thrown into the deep end. Over the past month or two I have had lots of experience being interviewed and I guess I am just learning as I go along.”

Surfing Highlights

Despite winning numerous competitions it is the travelling that is a definite highlight for Paige. “Just to see so many different places and cultures is amazing. You get home and it makes it so much easier to appreciate what you’ve got.” Out of all the countries Paige has visited she really wants to return to Andorra, a small country between France and Spain, but this time to ski. “It was a full on ski town, with lodges and it was tax free so we got really good shopping.”

Earlier this year Paige made the finals of the WQS at Soldiers Beach. Up against the big guns of the sport, Sam Cornish and Silvana Lima, Paige surfed confidently but eventually experience overtook Paige’s youth and enthusiasm. “You don’t really think about who you are competing against, you are just all colours. The finals were just like any other heat. Any of us could have won, it just came down to the set waves as it was really tiny.” The Junior Worlds would have to have been Paige’s competitive surfing highlight so far. However, Paige is someone who really backs herself and knows she is capable of better. “Being placed fourth was good but afterwards you’re like you always wanna win and I know that the competition was pretty close in the final and it could have been anyone’s.”

On Hanging out with Layne Beachley and other surfing superstars.

Recently Paige was chosen to join the world team at the Xgames in Mexico. There she competed in a team of six, made up of herself, Layne Beachley, Claire Bevilacqua, Stephanie Gilmore, Chelsea Hedges, Sofia Mulanovich and Leanne Curren. Rubbing shoulders with some pretty big names was an incredible experience for Paige. “All the girls were really good to me and it was pretty interesting just to see Layne, how she thinks, acts and about her whole life. I got heaps of things from her. It was also really funny to see her with Lisa Anderson. The rivalry between the two was intense.” To be chosen to compete with such world leaders in the sport is an achievement in itself and a real endorsement of Paige’s surfing ability. “Leanne and I were the two grommets of the trip and when you’re out surfing we did feel slightly intimidated and we sort of felt the need to prove ourselves a bit but everyone was really supportive.”

Role Models

“I used to say Layne was one of my idols but after meeting her and hearing about her life now I really mean it.” Paige also rated Richard Branson as an inspirational figure. “I read Richard Branson’s book and he is such an amazing motivator and just all the things he has done and succeeded at means you can’t help but admire and be inspired by him.”

Fears

After spending some time with Paige (and the other semi-pro girls) one of the main things that differentiates Paige from the likes of myself (other than her obvious superior skills) is her lack of fear. “You have the odd split second where you think about the possible dangers but you get over it.” It’s this type of attitude that really sets the top girls apart and made me wonder if it was something you could ever teach yourself or something you were just born with.

Training

Another thing that also sets Paige apart from the rest is her incredible fitness. Having challenged Paige to a few water fights and trying numerous times to unsuccessfully throw her off the boat I can vouch for her incredible strength. Getting fit for surfing involves a range of activities. “Just before I came here my shaper stayed with us for 10 days. Wayne took me to Placemakers, bought some wood and went home and made an on land barrel. The idea is to go through it on my skateboard and practice my stance and visualise being barrelled.” As well as that, Paige swims and stretches and of course surfs. “I have also just recently purchased a boxing bag so I do quite a bit of that and skipping, which is good for endurance and speed work.”

Future Goals and Plans

Paige envious lifestyle is made possible by the sponsorship of surfing big guns, Billabong along with Breakers Café and Bar, Mt Woodgee Surfboards, Von Zipper, Gallaz, FCS, Gorilla Grip, and of course mum and dad. “Without sponsorship I wouldn’t be able to travel as much. With the support crew from Billabong and Mt Woodgie it’s so much easier to get opportunities.” Paige has achieved so much already and her goal next year is to compete full time on the WQS as well as the Pro Junior Series. “I want to compete on the WQS for the experience and to improve my ratings.” Competing full time on the WQS will mean even more travelling for Paige, something she will obviously enjoy. There is no doubt about it that this powerhouse will leave her mark on the world of international surfing. All we can say is “watch this space!”