Wednesday, February 18, 2009   14 Comments

Kia Ora and Happy New Year everybody!
It’s my first blog of the year and my first as a bona fide Dream Tour surfer on the World Championship Tour. 

So straight off I want to thank everyone that supported me and my blog last year. All of those encouraging comments helped me become the first ever Kiwi girl – or shall I say ‘woman’! – to qualify for the WCT and end up ranked within the top 18 women in the world.

But 2009 is a whole new year with a whole bunch of fresh challenges and experiences waiting for me.  I’ll be going to new places and competing against the pros, many of whom are my idols. I have a whole lot of emotions swirling around in me right now. Everything from being anxious to excited.



One of the coolest things is that, now I’m at the elite level, I can actually call myself a ‘professional surfer’ now.   That’s something I have wanted to do since I was about six years young.

To make your living from your sport is a dream that I’m sure many children (and adults) had growing up and it has come to me a year earlier than I had planned.
There are eight contests on this year’s Dream Tour in the race to the world title – my next major goal….three in Australia, two in Hawaii, one each in Brazil and Peru and “The Search” event.  The point of the latter event is that no one is meant to know where it is until the last minute.  The rumour is it could be somewhere in Portugal this year. The fact of not knowing makes the event that much more exciting.

As well as the Dream Tour events, I will also be doing the WQS (World Qualifying Series).  It was through the 2008 WQS circuit that I qualified for the Dream Tour.

So why do the WQS over again since you’ve already made the Dream Tour Paige?

To be frank, to cover my butt!

I don’t want to lose my Dream Tour qualification and if I don’t go as well as I’d hoped for this year on the WCT, I need some “insurance”.  Only the top 10 girls automatically requalify for the top tour each year so if I can still finish in the top WQS rankings, I get to still keep my Dream Tour ticket even if ’09 doesn’t go to plan.

That obviously means more travelling around the world, more money spent and more time away from family and friends. Yes, it’s not all fab and glam, you know!  But don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining…someone’s got to do it!
Last year I just had these blogs and a few photos but this year I’m excited to tell you that I will be trying to do video clips as well more often.   If I can get it right, you will be able to see exactly what life on the road with me is really like.
The blood, sweat and the tears (hopefully tears of joy!).

I really want to involve you and New Zealand as much as I can cause I’m proud to be a Kiwi from the little land down under.

So feel free to give me any ideas for my video clips on what you would find interesting about life on the tour.

I’m also looking for some Kiwi music to put on my clips so if anyone wants their music on my videos let me know.  I just need your clearance!

I’m currently on the Gold Coast preparing for the first world tour event here at Snapper Rocks at Coolangatta.

In the next few weeks I will get a video up on my whole preparation and what it’s been like over here on the Gold Coast getting ready for gold!
Catch ya soon mate!
Paige

Cederman

Dan Procter

Daryn McBride

Kerrazy

NZ Surfing Magazine

Off the lip

Paige Hareb - Chasing the Dream

Photo CPL

S2 Forecaster

The Ricardo Report