SURFING - Swell year taking shape for surfer from Sandy Bay

Former Sandy Bay local Wini Paul is putting the final touches on preparing what could be an important year in her surfing career.
Paul was in Whangarei last week for a wedding and let her family and friends know about her plans to try to qualify for the ASP Women's Tour, by competing in the 2009 World Qualifying Series (WQS).
After winning the 2007 national open women's title Paul began surfing more in Australia and the 19-year-old is now based in Tugun, on the Gold Coast, where she's finding the surfing really suits her.
"I went there because there are more opportunities to further myself in surfing there than in New Zealand," she said.
"It's been a really good summer for me, although I've just had a break from training, so I can work more and save up so I can do the WQS competition," she said.
She works in a surf club and surfs every day - usually twice.
"I also do two or three sessions a week with a personal trainer, working on strengthening, to help my surfing," she said.
Paul also has a couple of private lessons booked with the head coach of the Australian team, Mark Richardson.
"Hopefully that will sort my head out, so that I know what I'm going to do in the heats," she said.
"At the WQS it's more about tactics in a way.
"I know I have the surfing ability but knowing how to compete in an international contest could be a lot different from what I'm used to," she said.
Paul won't be alone on tour. She will team up and travel with best friend and surfing rival New Plymouth's Paige Hareb.
Hareb made history last year by becoming the first New Zealand female to qualify for the 17-strong ASP World Tour.
"That should make it a bit easier for me, because she's got heaps of experience and we know a few other girls who are going to be doing the WQS," Paul said.
Hareb is ranked 15th in the world but is not taking her place on the world tour for granted.
"If you don't do any good on the world tour then you can use your rating from the WQS to requalify and keep your place on the tour - because your place on the tour isn't guaranteed," Paul said.
The Sandy Bay product is looking forward to learning a lot this year - not just on the water.
"It's going to be hard work and I'm going to have to learn quickly but even if I don't do any good on my first attempt at least I'll be having fun."
Paul has the pedigree to succeed in surfing.
Her mother Pauline Pullman won six national open surfing titles.
The WQS series starts off with the first of two events in Australia at Newcastle on March 20.
The 12-contest tour then moves to Hawaii in April for the first of three American contests.
Many of the contests this year are in South American countries - three in Brazil alone.
The tour then winds up in Hawaii again in October.