Hareb’s surprise at Cup selection
Taranaki surfer Paige Hareb is set to team up with some of the world’s best in the inaugural World Surf League Founder’s Cup in May.
This week the 27-year-old, of Oakura, was named in the world team joining South Africans Jordy Smith and Bianca Buitendag, French Polynesia’s Michel Bourez and Kanoa Igarashi of Japan to take on teams from the USA, Australia, Europe and Brazil at the event.
The cup will be held at the famous Surf Ranch facility in California, pioneered by 11 time world men’s surfing champion Kelly Slater, which boasts the best man made wave in history.
The speciality event will be the first time the ranch opens it doors to the public.
Hareb, who last year regained her spot on the Women’s Championship Tour for 2018 after losing it in 2014, said it was a great honour to be selected to surf Slater’s wavepool.
‘‘To be competing against the world’s best but to be named in the actual world team feels pretty special for a little country Kiwi girl,’’ she said.
In September a World Tour event would be held at the ranch so the
"It's a great opportunity." Paige Hareb
goofy-footer was stoked to get to check out the facility ahead of time.
‘‘I’ve never been to the Surf Ranch before so it’s a great opportunity to check it all out and get some practice for the actual world tour event in September.’’
Hareb said being named in the world team had come as a surprise but she was looking forward to it.
‘‘Then again the other teams, Australia, Brazil, Europe and USA, took up a lot of good surfers but I’m still a bit shocked to be named with some pretty big names and idols of mine.
‘‘I’m super excited about the event, it’s definitely going to be a different event to anything else we have on tour for the surfers and the spectators.’’
World Surf League commissioner Kieren Perrow said the Founders Cup would be a special part of the 2018 calendar.
‘‘It’s something new for surfing, but I think it will be a lot of fun and exciting to see how the world’s best surfers perform in this kind of a format.’’