Paige Hareb was the first female Kiwi surfer to make it into the ASP Women's World Tour.

Shot Spot Surf journalist Grace Gutwein had an online interview with Paige, who is now in Hawaii enjoying the winter season on the most powerful waves on the planet and competing on the final leg of the tour.

From practicing her stance on an on-land barrel to her plans in the futture, this interview tells a little bit more about this incredible 18 year old female surfer.

"I'm currently sitting on the Billabong deck up a massive hill surrounded by palm trees looking over the whole north shore coast. It's early so just checked a few surf spots and now having breakfast." said Paige 

*photos from Paige Hareb's Facebook Profile page

Quick Facts

Nickname: PGO (Paige-o)

Age: 20 years old  (06/06/1990)

Hometown: Oakura, Taranaki, New Zealand

Favourite food: Mexican and Lebonese

Stance: Goofy-footer

Surf since: 1999

Fave surf spot (International): Anywhere warm

Favourite surf shot: The recent one of me on CURL magazine because it was my very first time in mentawais anf very surf first there.

Favourite surf vid: none, I like watching them all every now and then.

Sponsors: Billabong, Mt Woodgee, Breakers Café' and Bar, Von Zipper, FCS, Gorilla Grip

Board Manufacturer: Wayne McKewen Shapes my Mt Woodgee boards

ASP Women's World Title 2010: 9th - 2736 points (at the time of publishing) 

ASP Women's World Ranking: 13th - 8640 points (at the time of publishing)

Twiiter Page: http://twitter.com/#!/paigehareb

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/paige.hareb#!/paige.hareb

Interview:

1. How's Hawaii!? What have you been up to today?
Hawaii is an amazing place, this year the weather and waves have been so good! I'm currently sitting on the Billabong deck up a massive hill surrounded by palm trees looking over the whole north shore coast. It's early so just checked a few surf spots and now having breakfast.

2. Are you looking forward to this final event for 2010 ASP Women's World Tour? What are you expecting?
Yeah for sure, I have been out there practicing everyday, getting used to my bigger boards. It's been fun and I've learnt alot about the place just in the last week. I'm expecting to do well and finish the year on a high.

3. Steph's just been crowned 2010 champion, did you think she was going to take it out again this year?
Yeah there was Sally and Carissa giving her a run for her money but Steph is a freak, she's amazing and deserved it.

4. That's awesome that you're currently sitting ninth, how do you feel you competed this year?
Yes and no. I had a goal to finish the year higher than that but I'm happy I'm still above the qualifying number. This year hasn't been the best for results for me. I think I competed well but have had some close calls against me so have been pretty unlucky in a few heats this year which makes all the difference from being 9th to being in the top 5 which sucks.

5. What brought you to love surfing?
Just growing up and living by the sea.

6. What can you tell us about growing up in Taranaki?
It's the west coast so it can get rugged, we have good swells and there's waves all year round. In winter it gets really cold, I have a local mountain there so I can going skiing and surfing in the same day! It's a good place to grow up especially if you are into all kinds of sports.

7. Looking forward to the ASP World Tour hitting your hometown in April next year?
Yeah ofcourse, last year was pretty special, it being the first time an event like that has ever been there. I was proud to show the other girls where I come from.

8. What are your favourite breaks at home?
Rocky point and stent road. A right and a left point break.

9. How do your local breaks compare with some of the places you have surfed overseas?

They are pretty world class on their day I reckon.

10. What advice would you give to surfers wanting to visit New Zealand?
Get a campervan and travel up and down the west and east coast, there's waves everywhere.

11. How does it feel to be a pro international surfer, doing what you love?
Amazing, I need yo appreciate more sometimes even when there are the bad times like stuck in airports and getting charged for boards.

12. Any advice for young girls out there wanting to follow in your footsteps to compete at an international level?
Never give up. Persistence is the key. Just keep at it and as long as you're having fun you will get there.

13. How do you prepare mentally and physically for a competition? And keep up your fitness level in between?
It's hard traveling all the time, I try to stretch alot and now I'm in Hawaii for a month it's easier to have a routine. I like to bike. Just whatever really.

14. NZ's Curl magazine referred to you as focused, calm and powerful at a competitive level. Would you agree with that? Is that how you feel going into a competition?
I'd like to think so, most of the time. I have the odd freak out I guess where I'm a bit nervous or something but most of the time I think I am those 3 things, I really feel I have just been unlucky this year with my results.

15. How do you approach learning new moves/tricks?
I love having fun free surfs like that where you just feel like trying everything and anything. It's hard though cause I don't like to try new stuff all the time close to events so I really need to take advantage of the down time over xmas.

16. What have been the highlights in your surfing career for you – a particular win, the travel, the people you've met, or getting to do what you love?
I think this year I have really enjoyed the people around me, traveling and experiencing new places. If I don't look at my results, this year has been so fun, it's be an amazing experience. Although I really did enjoy getting 2nd in Peru at the ISA games in Peru and hanging out with all the teams.

17. How do you deal with all the media attention?
I feel like I'm a spoilt brat if I complained about that kind of thing especially compared to Steph and what she has to deal with. Of course I get a lot more when I'm at home and when the event is on in Taranaki so you just have to deal with it, go with the flow and enjoy it cause it will all be over before you know it. Also I'm out of the country a lot so I don't get to see myself in all the news papers and on the news which is a good thing I think.

18. Who do you see as your biggest competition right now?
Steph, she's the world champ and I think nearly every time I have lost this year it was her who knocked me out.

19. Is it true your shaper made you an on-land barrel made from wood and had you ride your skateboard to practice and visualise getting barrelled? If so, did it work!?
haha yes that is true, it was pretty fun, kind of like the new 'in' thing of tarp surfing except it was stationary and I would just line up grab my rail and skate through it. Yes it definitely got me used to crouching down so low a visualizing what the real thing is like.

20. Where is the coolest place you've been?
That's a hard one. for surfing I would say Mentwais, Lakey Peak and Tahiti. For traveling and partying I would say Lagos in Portugal and Holland.

21. What are the plans for the future?
Keep doing this as long as i can and as long as I'm happy and healthy. Maybe get into real estate or something afterwards, who knows I'm just going with the flow!

Interview by Grace Gutwein