Home stretch awaits Hareb
From the start of the World Surf League qualifying series (QS), the goal was simple for Paige Hareb - get back onto the Championship Tour (CT).
Now, eight months and 10 competitions later, that goal is well within her reach.
With two events left on her schedule, the 27-year-old from Taranaki sits ninth on the ladder - just 2140 points outside of a guaranteed qualification spot.
To qualify for the women’s CT, surfers must finish in the top six on the QS. However, if a surfer on the CT finishes in the QS top six but requalifies with a top 10 finish on the CT, the next best finishing QS surfer moves on to the CT.
As the ladders stand, three surfers above her on the QS hold automatic qualifying spots on the CT.
‘‘I’m feeling pretty good. If the tour stopped right now I’d be qualifying,’’ she said. ‘‘So I’ve just got to keep it up now.’’
Hareb was back in Taranaki this week after a busy time on the QS calendar, with a number of high level events being held in what could be seen as a make-orbreak part of the year.
Since late May, a number of the major QS competitions were held and Hareb remained in the mix for qualification when all was said and done.
Her best result during that span was a quarterfinal-finish at the QS6000 in Spain. While she improved her position on the year from that competition, she knows she could have done more - falling in the final minute of her quarterfinal against Australian Bronte Macaulay.
‘‘My goal for that contest was to improve my overall points total, which I was able to do, but losing in the last minute sucks especially since I would have improved more if I’d held on. You can’t dwell on that too much though.’’
While she’s fully focused on the task at hand, Hareb has been paying close attention to the CT which is shaping up for an exciting finish.
‘‘That’s where I want to be next year, so it’s a bit like home work - watching how they surf and what mistakes they’re making.’’
All six of the CT surfers currently ahead of her on the QS are in the mix for a top-10 finish, and the final three CT events of the year will no doubt make the picture more clear.
However, from the start of the year Hareb has said she doesn’t want to be relying on other girls’ results to secure qualification if she can help it.
With that in mind, she now turns her attention to a QS3000 in Japan next month before the final QS6000 of the year in Australia in November.
‘‘They are both pretty important so it will be nice to get a good result at both. My goal is to make the semifinals in Japan and the quarters in Australia. I don’t think I’ll be too happy if I don’t do that.
‘‘I know what I need to do to stay ahead of the girls below me and hopefully go ahead of some of the girls above me.’’