Surf Up-and-comer

Oakura teen Paige Hareb has been ranked fourth in the world in women’s under-18 surfing since the junior world championships in May. The 17-year-old was also the first New Zealander ever to compete at the X-Games, held in Mexico in July. She attended the event at the invitation of Australian 7-times world champion, Layne Beachley. Despite being exposed to some of the world’s greatest breaks, Hareb is content with training in Taranaki. “There are heaps of point breaks, so it’s easy to practice your moves,” she said in an interview with the Taranaki Daily News. “And then in the winter, when you’re wearing big thick wetsuits, it gives me an advantage when I go to places like Bali.” Hareb currently surfs for Billabong’s international women’s team.