Paige Hareb
The torturous wait is over for New Zealand surfer Paige
Hareb, who has clinched an automatic berth in next year's elite
women's world tour.
The Taranaki surfer finished the 2010 tour in ninth place,
with the top 10 placegetters all earning a ticket to return
next year.
However, that placing wasn't decided until today, with Hareb
having to wait nearly a week before the completion of women's
World Cup event at Hawaii's Sunset Beach.
She was eliminated in the repechage six days ago, leaving
Australians Claire Bevilacqua and Rebecca Woods with a chance
to leapfrog her in the season standings and demote her to
11th.
Both needed to win through the quarterfinal stage today but
both were elminated.
The final produced an upset result, with Australian Tyler
Wright heading off Hawaiin Coco Ho and Australians Stephanie
Gilmore and Sally Fitzgibbons.
Gilmore wrapped up her fourth world title last month, with
Fitzgibbons placing a distant second.
Gilmore won $US100,700 ($NZ133,387) in prizemoney this year
while Hareb pocketed $US43,350 ($NZ57,421).
Final standings: Stephanie Gilmore (Australia) 7284
points 1, Sally Fitzgibbons (Australia) 5634 2, Carissa Moore
(Hawaii) 5196 3, Silvana Lima (Brazil) 4716 4, Sofia
Mulanovich (Peru) 4704 5, Chelsea Hedges (Australia) 4488 6,
Coco Ho (Hawaii) 4296 7, Melania Bartels (Hawaii) 4092 8,
PAIGE HAREB (New Zealand) 3096 9, Rebecca Woods (Australia)
2904 10
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