Riding a wave of success
New Zealand’s surfing royalty believe the sport is growing in strength and the country could produce future world champions.
Paige Hareb, of Oakura, and Mahia’s Ricardo Christie will make history in 2019 when they both compete in the World Surf League Championship Tour (WCT). It’s the first time a man and woman from New Zealand have been on the tour at the same time.
While Christie was taking part in the Health 2000 national surfing championships at Stent Rd, south of Okato, on Wednesday Hareb was watching the action from the shore.
Christie, who has requalified for the tour in 2019 after first competing in it in 2015, said Kiwis had been winning world junior titles for decades but struggled to find the finance to make the jump to senior ranks.
‘‘New Zealand has always had world class talent, you know.
‘‘It would be really cool now that me and Paige are on tour, we can kind of rally up support for the junior surfers coming up so more can give it a go.
‘‘I have no doubt in my mind that there could be New Zealand world champion surfers in the future, we have just got to rally in behind all of the kids.
‘‘We have got amazing waves all year round, so there’s no doubt in my mind that we can foster some amazing surfers here.’’
Hareb, who first qualified for the WCT in 2009, said an increase in girls taking part in the sport was positive.
‘‘It can only be a good thing I think, making it bigger and stronger,’’ the 28-year-old said.
Hareb, who missed out on making the top tour in 2015 before requalifying again for 2018, believed having both her and Christie competing at the highest level would be good for surfing in New Zealand.
‘‘Hopefully it will gain a bit more interest at home and encourage the next generation to get out there and have a go.’’
She also believed a New Zealander could dominate the sport in the future.
‘‘I think it will get better and stronger and hopefully we can show them Kiwis can do it.’’
Hareb said it would be a nice change to have Christie at tour events this year.
‘‘It will be good just to be there to support each other and having another Kiwi to watch.
‘‘It’s pretty cool, it’s the first time ever New Zealand has had a lady and a man on tour.’’
Christie and Hareb said they both wanted to qualify for the New Zealand team for the Olympic Games in Japan in 2020.
‘‘It would be really cool to meet some awesome athletes and compete against the best surfers in the world under the Olympic banner,’’ Christie said.
On Wednesday Christie looked to be in dominant form as he moved through to the event’s semifinals but wasn’t thinking about taking the title yet.
‘‘Yeah, it would be cool but I’m not really focused on winning, I’m just trying to get back into a rhythm.’’
The semifinals were scheduled yesterday and finals are expected to be held today and tomorrow.