KEY POINTS:
Paige Hareb is one wave closer to becoming the first New Zealander to qualify for the Association of Surfing Professionals' women's world tour.
Hareb, of Taranaki, finished second in the Oakley Rio Surf International today (NZT) at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, the penultimate event in the world qualifying series.
She narrowly lost the final of the four-star competition to Brazilian Diana Cristina, posting a score of 12.23 to Cristina's 12.34.
Earlier, Hareb beat Hawaiian surfer Coco Ho 13.16 to 11.77 in the semifinals.
Hareb's second placing increased her qualifying series points tally to 7285 and left her in fifth place on the ratings.
The top six qualify for the world tour next year.
The final qualifying event is in Hawaii on November 12-23.
- NZPA
