Top kiwi Paige Hareb speaks about her Hawaiian season

Source: Ben Kennings - Surfing New Zealand -www.surfingnz.co.nz-

Paige has been keping in touch with the Surfing New Zealand recently jibbing us about her travels in Hawaii while we work away back here in NZ. So we hit Paige up via her Bebo site to jot down a few things to share with our website visitors. 

Coming to the end of her three week trip to 'The Rock' she has had the chance to experience a stack of things and judging by her answers, fall in love with the place so have a read and see what you reckon.

How long are you in Hawaii for?
About 3 weeks

Where are you staying?
360 feet from the beach in front of Backyards, near sunset

Competing in any comps?
No, I tried to get in to the Haleiwa WQS but there were so many girls in it that I couldn’t get in plus they look after their locals for trials, wildcards etc!

Are you going to Maui to see the last WCT?
No, wish I was! I get to see a bit of the girls WCT at sunset in a couple of days though which should be good to watch.

Where have you been surfing?
I have tried to surf all different breaks since it is my first time here. When it was small I surfed a sucky right hander reef break called velzyland. I surfed Haleiwa heaps when the girls comp was on. I have also surf Rocky lefts and rights but it isn’t as good as my rocky point back in taraz!! ? Also a kind of beachie called Pupukea and the famous sunset and I surfed Waimea bay today which was about 8-10ft. Still plenty more spots to surf yet!!

Broken any boards, if so how?
Nope, none luckily. I have only ever broken one board and that was at the Mexican pipeline and paddling out and duckdiving!

What’s the biggest surf you have been out in and where?
Either Sunset or Waimea. I think Waimea was a couple of feet bigger, well it was scarier!! They were both about solid 8-10ft. I was on my 7ft board at Waimea and even that felt tiny!!

Rubbed shoulders with any big noters?
Yep I am best buds with them now. I’ve had a few surfs with my World team members Sofia Mulanavich, Steph Gilmore, Chelsea Hedges, Claire bevolaqua, Layne Beachley and a few of the other WCT girls. Also with the up and comers Sally Fitzgibbons, Laura Enever, Lee anne Curren, Coco Ho, Carissa Moore, Bethaney Hamilton. Also a few of the guys like Nathan Hedge and Bede Durbidge and Ricardo just to name a few! haha

Caught up with any Kiwis?
Yip Ricardo, seen maz and bobby surf in the WQS. Both were unlucky not to get through. Also proberly catch up with Jarrod ‘Lego man’ Hancox out in the water at some stage.

Seen any angry incidents out in the surf?
Nope nothing, I’ve heard of heavy localized spots but ain’t seen nothing!

Have you been to all those famous hang outs like Foodland and the Haleiwa General Store (I think)?
Yeah I bike to Foodland everyday and I think you mean Ted’s bakery, they’re both where it’s at….. surfey gatherings!!

What girls have been shredding the most in Hawaii?
Of course Megan Abubo who won the WQS at Haleiwa which made her re-qualify for the WCT. Then probably Sofia Mulanvich. She’s so tiny but she rips in that big stuff!

When are you coming home?
Stalker Ben! Haha nah be back in the big NZ on the 28th of November. Home for my sisters wedding and to train for the world juniors at Narrabeen at the start of January.

Anything else you would like to add?
I love USA! I am in love with all the cheap clothes and shoes. I am in love with the new apple iphones and I am in love with the cars over here. My favourite would have to be either a Hummer ute or a Subaru ute!! There’s a good incentive to win the triple crown for the men and the women because you win a big Chevrolet truck! Now that would be amazing, I would be in heaven!! Haha you should see Megan Abubo and Rochelle Ballard over here. They are so tiny and they rock up to the comp in their big black double cab utes that are twice as high as them – they need a step ladder just to get in and out!!

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