Paige rides NZ teen success wave

MIKE SCOTT/Taranaki Daily News

MAKING WAVES: Taranaki surfer Paige Hareb has made it finals of the World Pro Junior Championship.

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Inspired by Marina Erakovic's feats over the last week, another Kiwi teenage girl has put New Zealand on the international sporting map with a commanding performance at the world professional surfing championships.
 Video: Epic conditions for world junior surfing

Taranaki's Paige Hareb shocked the international surfing world in Sydney by reaching the final of the Billabong World Pro Junior after only gaining entry via a sponsor's wildcard.

Hareb, 17, was beaten in the final by current world champion and local favourite Sally Fitzgibbons but not before having claimed the scalps of the South American, South African and American champions along the way.

More importantly, her new ranking as the No. 2 world ranked professional junior marks her as a future star on the international women's elite "Dream Tour".

Hareb's display drew ringing praise from seven times world champion, Australia's Layne Beachley.

"Paige has been surfing amazingly all week and I predict she will go on to do big things in surfing.  It's such an achievement just to make the final."

"This is unbelievable - it's been a dream contest for me," said Hareb, who tutored Tom Cruise's children with surf lessons when the Hollywood mega-star based himself at her home break at Oakura Beach during the making of The Last Samurai movie.

The performance is the strongest by a New Zealand surfer on the world surfing stage in decades.

Hareb had not reckoned in the pre-contest predictions and produced a Samurai-like display in the 1-1.5 metre waves at Narrabeen Beach to slice through the field of the world's best surfers under 20.

"I think I sneaked up on a few people but I have been working hard behind the scenes,' said a beaming Hareb.

"It's great to see my name up there, and the words 'New Zealand' after it.  I followed on the net how Marina was going in the tennis in Auckland and when she did so well it inspired me too.

"Reputations mean nothing if you do the preparation first."

Hareb's fitness and mental strength, as well as her physical surfing ability, stunned her more seasoned opponents on the final day of the event.

She defied the leading seeds to justify the wildcard position given to her by the event organisers which was based on her fourth place at the world junior amateur titles in Portugal last year.

"My goal is to break onto the Dream Tour and there are only 17 spots on that.  But traditionally, surfers who have done well at the Pro Junior have kicked on to the pro ranks.

"So it's a huge confidence boost for me.  My parents Mike and Fiona were over her to support me so it was epic to do so well with them here too."

Hareb opened the day by taking out Brazilian Marina Werneck to advance to the quarter finals.  She gained momentum there following a titanic struggle with South African champion and the only Dream Tour surfer in the field. Nikita Robb.

Needing a seven-point ride in the last stages of the showdown after trailling Robb for most of it, Hareb shrewdly exploited her priority advantage to starve her rival of any good waves while racking up her own sizzling heat-sealer.

"Having priority is like holding serve in tennis.you dictate the terms," she said.

"It was pretty nerve-wracking but I kept my cool and it worked out."

At one stage, a frustrated Robb paddled right up alongside Hareb, attempting to pressure her into taking a wave and surrendering priority.

Hareb kicked on from the narrow win to trounce American champion Courtney Colongue in the semis.

Storming out of the blocks with two high-scoring waves in the first 10 minutes, Hareb secured a big lead she never surrendered.

In the final, Fitzgibbons claimed an early lead and held tenaciously to it despite Hareb fighting back midway through the 30-minute final, sealing a predicted victory with an amazing nine point plus ride.

"Sally is a tough competitor and I learnt so much from that final.  I'm stoked," she declared. "This sets up the year so well."

Fitzgibbons' victory saved face for hosts Australia who were shut out of the men's event which was dominated by overseas surfers and won by Brazilian Pablo Paulino.

- © Fairfax NZ News