Paige Hareb, aka PAIGEY, is one of those freaky Younguns. This year is her first year on the ASP Women's World Tour. Paigey is the first Kiwi female in history to qualify for the women's Dream Tour. And what a start ! Third place at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast for the first event and a fifth place at the Rip Curl Pro Bell's Beach or the second event.
She ranks at the Third place of the Dream Tour, she's young, beautifull and maybe World Champ...What else ?

Freaksurf Magazine : Can you present yourself, where are you born, when, where do you live...?

PAIGE HAREB : I was born 6th June 1990 in New Plymouth where I still live near today... It's a little place called Oakura with about 4000 people in the North Island on the West Coast in New Zealand!

FSM : Why did you choose surfing, where and when, with who ?

PH : I grew up playing a lot of sports and surfing came out on top because I think it's the most fun and best lifestyle. My Dad taught me, pushing me into waves at my local beach, Oakura. I think I was about 5 years old.

Tell us about last year on the WQS ?

Last year on the WQS was a whirlwind, crazy, fun, intense, all of the above! I didn't plan to qualify last year but I did so it was an extra bonus.

At the start I thought it was going to be with all the attention and pressure on us but for me I don't feel any pressure and I just treat it like any other competition.

This year is Young Guns time in both Male and Female champs. How do you explain that, they win events, kicks veterans asses and are in all mags !

I think it's just part of the progression in surfing and NOW is the TIME for all of that.

Which piece of advice would you give to a young girl who want to be surf champ?

Never give up, persistance is the key and always have fun!

What are you doing when you're not surfing?

Editing movies, hanging with friends and family or doing some other sports.

Why are the youngest the leaders of the tour this year, you, Coco Ho, Steph Gilmore...?

Well easy answer for Steph cause she rips and has a few years on the likes of Coco and I. As for myself and Coco I think we are just really keen and focused to do well.

What are you doing when there's no waves during events?

Being a tourist, just hanging out with the girls.

Whose surfer inspire you the most?

Kelly Slater, Layne Beachley et Stephanie Gilmore

Who are you travelling with? and who is your best friend on tour?

On the WQS, I have been traveling with Claire Bevilacqua, Wini Paul and Jess Grimwood. On the WCT I travel with my parents. I get a long with all the girls, they're all very cool people but I usually hang out with Rebecca Woods and Sofia Mulanovich.

Who is the craziest girl in and out of water on the Dream Tour ?

That's a tough one! I would have to say Silvana Lima, she rips in the water, crazy airs! And out of the water she does crazy kapa wera(the Brazilian dance) she's one cool chick!

Your favorite:

Surf spot : Tahiti

You're the first female kiwi surfer to have ever been qualify to the dream tour, what is your feeling about that?

Yeah I'm pretty happy about that, of course I'm proud to be a kiwi and represent my country.

FSM : Kiwi surfer's are well represented this year, with you, Airini Mason, Rowan Aish, and Richard Christie. How do you explain the level which is terrible and very stylish?

Yeah Airini will make the tour one day, it will be cool to see a couple of kiwi's on there. Also the kiwi boys are getting better and better all the time, I've got my money on Richard Christie to be the next male kiwi surfer to make the dream tour.

How did you feel when you arrived in the Dream Tour, this year being the only kiwi ? Is it hard, have you been accepted by the other girls in place in the Dream Tour?

Yeah it's always a little bit nerve-racking being new to something, but I pretty much traveled with all those girls on the WQS anyway and am good friends with them already so it wasn't so bad.

Did the qualification to the world tour change your life?

Not too much, I was used to all the traveling from last year on the WQS, now that I'm on the Dream Tour I just get pampered more and more media back in NZ.

Is the ASP World Tour like you imagine it ?

Yeah it's pretty much how I imagined it. Good waves, strong competition but a whole lot of fun and experiencing new things all the time. I love it.

Is it hard to be a rookie on the tour ?

It's a kind of revolution ?

There's always going to be a new generation coming through and I'm stoked to be coming up with the names of Sally Fitzgibbons and Coco Ho.

You made a perfect start, ranking 3rd place, how do you explain it?

I have no idea (haha) my goal for both of them was to make at least quarters and I did it in both of them. I guess you just have to believe in yourself and be confident but the main thing is to take it all in along the way and have fun!

How do you define your way of surfing ? Favorite manover ?

I'd like to think that my surfing is solid and in there somewhere haha. I like trying to get tricky, airs but my fav is barrels!

How do you train ?

Cross-training just having fun with other sports from skiing and snowboarding, to tennis, squash, running, just whatever really.

Steph Gilmore has proved that a rookie can be world champion, is that your objective ?

Steph is amazing but I think it's possible for sure. It wasn't my goal at the start of this year but I've given myself a good chance so time will tell !

Event : Margaret River WQS and all the WCT'

Victory : 1 st Margaret River WQS 08

Lost : my fav lost? Never have one of those! haha

Board : of my Mt Woodgee boards!

Wave : all the waves in Tahiti and my local Rocky Point!

Track list on your ipod : Bit of everything...hip hop, dance, techno, cruisey.
Kiwi's.... Fat Freddy's drop, LadyHawke

Can you tell us about your biggest party on tour, when, where, with who?

Oooo what goes on tour, stays on tour! haha this is all I'm saying.....In Portugal last year with all the girls.... good, fun times!

Thanks Paigey.

Interview by Johann Mouchel for Freaksurf Magazine

Credit photo : Billabong