Surf Ranch will change the sport
After a few flat days in Taranaki it’s no wonder that Paige Hareb is counting down the days until her visit to Kelly Slater’s Surf Ranch.
The 27-year-old Kiwi, who returned home to secure a visa for the South African stop on the WLS Championship Tour, has been invited to compete at the Founders Cup, the first public event to be staged at the groundbreaking wave pool in Lemoore, California.
‘‘It’s the best wave pool we’ve ever seen and the waves really do look pretty perfect in a surfer’s eyes,’’ Hareb said.
‘‘I think most of the surfers on the tour have been and surfed it so I think I’m one of the last ones to test it out and I’m pretty excited.
‘‘I booked out two days before it to get some practice. I have heard that if there’s no wind that the wave can be quite hard to read and it can be difficult to figure out where the lip is to time your turns right. Even though it’s the same wave every time there’s still a lot to think about.’’
Five teams – USA, Brazil, Australia, Europe and World – made up of men’s and women’s surfers from the Championship Tour, will contest next week’s event.
Hareb will lineup on the World team alongside Jordy Smith, Michael Bourez, Kanoa Igarashi and Bianca Buitendag.
Although the surfers have been given reassurances by the WSL that the ocean remains the priority, Hareb said the Surf Ranch has the potential to change the sport forever.
‘‘I think there will always be that debate to keep it in the ocean and with the nature but as a competitive surfer it’d be great for trying to get better and practising the same move over and over.
‘‘The ocean is always different so you could try one turn or trick on a particular section but you may not get that exact same section for another couple of surfs let alone another couple of waves,’’ she said.
‘‘I guess that’s why surfing is such a hard sport – the ocean is always changing and moving, and no wave is the same.
‘‘It’s not like tennis where you can hit the same ball and the same shot down the line 10 dozen times and get better really quick.
‘‘Surfing is different to that and the wave pool is definitely going to change surfing, and I’ve already heard China are booking the pool for a month and who knows what they will be coming out with, they could be doing gymnastics on the waves soon.’’
Hareb has made a disappointing return to the Championship Tour after a three-year absence.
She is currently near the bottom of the standings after finishing in a share of 13th place in each of the first three rounds.
‘‘Obviously the results are disappointing but at the same time I’m so happy to be back there. It’s been great anyway. There’s been a couple of close heats and against a past world champ and a current world champ but I’m still taking positives out of it.