FITZROY BEACH, Taranaki/New Zealand (Thursday, April 8, 2010) – Hot off the heels of the second stop of the year at Bells Beach, the ASP Top 17 have traversed the Tasman Sea to the bountiful beaches of Taranaki for the TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival.

Event No. 3 on the 2010 ASP Women’s World Tour, the TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival plays a crucial role in the requalification campaigns of the world’s best female surfers as well as the all important hunt for the prestigious ASP Women’s World Title.

Paige Hareb (NZL), 19, current ASP Women’s World 9, is into her second year on the ASP Dream Tour, the young goofy-footer will be looking turn around an uncharacteristic slow start to the season.

“I haven’t had the best start to my year,” Hareb said. “At this time last year, I had a third and a fifth. This year, I have two ninths so it’s definitely a different position to be in. I’m really looking for a result in New Zealand.”

A result could certainly be in the cards for Hareb. As the first female Kiwi to ever qualify for the prestigious ASP Women’s World Tour, Hareb also has the distinct honor of partaking in the first ASP Dream Tour event in New Zealand.

“It’s amazing that the tour is coming to New Zealand,” Hareb said. “We have so many great waves and I think the girls are really going to enjoy themselves. I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Hareb will face Melanie Bartels (HAW), 27, and Lee Ann Curren (FRA), 20, in the opening round of competition.

South Africa’s Rosanne Hodge, currently ranked equal No. 9, and rookie Nikita Robb, equal No. 17, will be determined to improve their improve their positions on the ASP Women’s leaderboard.

Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 22, reigning three-time ASP World Champion, has won the opening two events of the season and will be the form surfer to watch in New Zealand. Gilmore will battle heavily-touted ASP Women’s World Tour rookie Carissa Moore (HAW), 17, in Round 1 of competition.

The TSB Bank Women’s Surf Festival will be webcast LIVE via www.nzsurffestival.co.nz

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

TSB BANK WOMEN’S SURF FESTIVAL ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Coco Ho (HAW), Rebecca Woods (AUS), Amee Donohoe (AUS)
Heat 2: Melanie Bartels (HAW), Paige Hareb (NZL), Lee Ann Curren (FRA)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Carissa Moore (HAW), TBA
Heat 4: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS), Nikita Robb (ZAF)
Heat 5: Silvana Lima (BRA), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF), Claire Bevilacqua (AUS)
Heat 6: Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Bruna Schmitz (BRA)

High-res image available for complimentary download at: (Copy/Paste URL)

http://www.aspworldtour.com/photos/SEARCHW09/hareb2694search09kirstin_n.jpg

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Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Media
Dave Prodan
email: dave@aspworldtour.com
USA mobile: +1 949 678 0987

AUS mobile: +61 (0) 400 455 228
Digital Photographs:
High-resolution digital images for newspapers and Internet sites are available via the ASP Digital Images Department – please contact kirstin@aspworldtour.com

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About ASP: The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships. The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Japan, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.