The 17 year old from Corlette will this week compete in the Port Stephens Toyota Pro, being staged at Birubi Beach from Friday, November 15 to Sunday, November 17, which she will enter fresh off placing third in the open women's final of the Mattara Surf Classic which was held in Newcastle on Sunday.

"I'm really excited for this Pro," Elle said. "I've been training really hard for it. Hopefully my form continues into the event."

It will be the third year Elle will compete in the professional surfing event, which brings the world's best surfers to Port Stephens to surf in the final 6000-point Qualifying Series event of the season.

In her first year surfing in the Pro, Elle went up against Californian Sage Erickson, currently ranked number two in the World Surf League's QS 2019 tour, in round five. Last year the Corlette teen bowed out of the competition in round one.

Elle said competing against world class surfers, and on her home break, was an experience like no other.

"It's a really good experience to be around the girls, to see them surf the same waves you do almost every day," she said. "Having the Pro here is really good, too. You travel a lot with surfing. Having it at home, where your bed is just 10 minutes away, and your friends and family can watch is great."

Also flying the flag for Port Stephens in the Pro for a third year is Elle's best friend Jasmine Sampson, 17, from Anna Bay.

"Surfing with your best friend is great because we push each other," Elle said. "The only time we're not friends is when we're in the water competing against each other."

Elle, a Tomaree High School student, said she spent 2019 focusing on her Year 12 studies. But she still also found success in the water. She won a second consecutive King of the Box title in August. The month before, Elle finished fourth in the women's final of the NSW Junior Shortboard Titles.

The placing was enough to qualify for the Australian Junior Surfing Titles which begin at Margaret River in Western Australia on November 30. She will surf in the under-18 division.

Qualifying for nationals is a highlight of Elle's year.

"I am so excited for it," she said. "I've been trying to qualify for so long now. It was my last chance to qualify this year and I did it."

Elle is currently sitting 20^th in the women's junior World Surf League's Oceania/Australia rankings.

A launch for the third annual Pro will be held at Port Stephens Toyota in Taylors Beach on Thursday, when surfers begin arriving for the competition.

Due to scheduling, this year's Port Stephens Pro will only feature the women's QS6000 event and not the Men's QS1000 and cadet divisions.

ALSO READ