What am I doing here?
To be honest, it was an impromptu trip that I was indecisive over making or not.
One of the reasons was that it's such as mission to get here from New Zealand.
I'd already been to Brazil once this year, getting a 5th in an important round of the World Qualifying Series (WQS) there.
I like the country but wasn't necessarily in a rush to get back!
But after a few weeks of training in Australia and back at home in New Zealand, I decided to bite the bullet and head there for two back-to-back WQS competitions.
The reason is that I am currently ranked 5th on the WQS ratings and the top six girls qualify for the WCT (World Championship Tour - aka "The Dream Tour" with only the top 17 girls in the world).
With only three WQS events left for the year, I was in a pretty good spot on the ratings but because the two Brazilian events were only ‘4- star' rated, I had to get first or second in one of the two to improve my overall position.
With only three WQS events left for the year, I was in a pretty good spot on the ratings but because the two Brazilian events were only ‘4- star' rated, I had to get first or second in one of the two to improve my overall position.
It's a long way to travel (and a lot of money to spend!) to know you have to at least make the final to make it worthwhile.
But in the end, I thought if I didn't go, I'd regret it if at the end of the year I narrowly dipped out on the 2009 Dream Tour.
I'm not into "what ifs!"
At the moment it's working out.
The first competition was held at a small, pristine beach called Praia do Santinho near Florianopilas on an island called Santa Catarina. It's in the south-east of Brazil. The scenery made me feel very much like being at home in New Zealand.
I was here for a week. The surf was a beach break and for the first few days it was very challenging to paddle out the back. The swell was quite big and because it was a beach break there were no channels or anything to get out easily. You just had to try and punch straight through. A good fitness workout!
From the quarter finals, they were two-surfer heats and we were allowed to have our own jet ski each for the whole heat to get us out the back quickly.
I'd like that service everytime! You finish the wave, in whisks the guy on the jet-ski to pick you up and you're back out in the line-up straight away. No paddling, no duck diving...that's the life for me!
I got to the semis where I drew Silvana Lima from Brazil. She finished No. 2 in the world on the WCT (Dream Tour) last year, so she's a formidable opponent.
Brazil loves her! The people here are very patriotic which is pretty cool to experience but no so good if you are up against her on her turf!
In our heat the surf was small and inconsistent but the same for both of us! I was winning for most of the heat until Silvana snuck onto a random good wave and scored a nine-point ride.
That left me with about five minutes to go in the heat and needing a seven-point ride. To get a seven, you need a pretty descent wave, so for the last five minutes I was patiently sitting out the back waiting but not even a ripple came through. I couldn't do anything about it. I ended up third in the comp. If I had progressed through that heat I would have improved my overall rating points.
Close but no cigar!
The upside was I gained some good experience from two-surfer heats by going up against Silvana, plus some of the other girls on my heels in the WQS rankings finished lower than me at the event which helps too.
I've now headed off to the second event in Rio de Janeiro and the good news is I'm into the semis!
Just one more winning heat and it will have made the whole trip worthwhile.
Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Obrigado!
Paige Hareb - offshore in Brazil.
2008
05:31 pm
Is your father Mike Hareb, from New Plymouth/Oakura? I used to live there 30 years ago and wonder if you are related to Mike? I live in San Diego CA and still surf at age 56. Continued good luck to you!
- Posted by Graham Espie
2008
08:20 pm
I have a kiwi grand-daughter who would love to be as successful as you. She knows the dedication you show and like me she totally admires what you are doing. All the best!
- Posted by Bev Poulter
2008
07:37 am
Kia kaha ra koe e Paige.... ko te pae tata whakamaua kia tina....do the little things excellently and the big things will come....go NZ...!!!!!
- Posted by Pat
2008
07:40 am
hi Graham, Yes, Mike is my Dad and we still live at Oakura. He still surfs too(although he drops in on me more times than he should!)
- Posted by Paige Hareb
2008
09:52 am
HI Pagegood on you, you are a real inspiration.If you are ever back in Floripa go to the Kiwi Cafe in the city centre and say hi to my sister in law Anne.
- Posted by Mark
2008
10:56 am
heya paige, im ruby from NZ i once saw ya surf in taraz and your were amazing! i know ya can beat them hard core, they may be good, but so are you remember that,kia kaha paige, dont hold back!best of luck!
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Paige is New Zealand's top ranked female surfer internationally and is NZ's only female surfer to qualify for the Elite ASP World Championship Tour.
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