Surfing: Hareb through but Mason misses out

Paige Hareb has qualified for the 2012 Association of Surfing Professionals Women's World Tour for the fourth consecutive year after finishing fifth at an event in Europe.

However her success has meant fellow New Zealander Sarah Mason missed out.

Hareb, from Taranaki, finished the year ranked sixth overall, while 16-year-old Gisborne surfer Mason finished eighth equal and missed qualification on a count-back, after coming 13th in the Billabong Azores Pro at the hands of Hareb.

"It's been a long day. After that first heat where I had to `sit' on Sarah I didn't know what to think and just felt kind of sick because there was so many emotions going through me,'' said Hareb of her early match up against fellow Kiwi Mason.

"It's all done and dusted now though and I feel relieved more than happy'' she added.

This year has proven to be a tight battle for requalification for Hareb.

"I guess I lost my way during the year. I had been in touch with my coach Cheyne Horan recently and he talked to me about my heat strategy so I listened to him and tried to change it at the Pantin event and I ended up fifth there, so I felt confident and used that heat strategy again for the Azores event and got another fifth.''

Mason, despite finishing eighth (the cut off point for qualification being sixth), had two surfers ahead of her - Courtney Conlogue of the USA and Sofia Mulanovich of Peru who both qualified via the 2011 Women's World Tour rankings.

To make things even more agonising come qualification time, Mason was tied for eighth place with French surfer Justine Dupont who eventually won on a countback of each of the surfers' best three results.

Final 2011 ASP Women's World Rankings

1, Courtney Conlogue, USA, 15780

2, Malia Manuel, HAW, 9660

3, Lakey Peterson, USA, 9080

4, Sage Erickson, USA, 8680

5, Rebecca Woods, AUS, 8200

6, Paige Hareb, NZL, 7800

7, Sofia Mulanovich, PER, 7320

8, Justine Dupont, FRA, 6800

8, Sarah Mason, NZL, 6800

10, Dimity Stoyle, AUS, 6400