BUDE surfing sensation, Ellie Turner, is aiming to become a professional ‘within the next couple of years’ following her latest exploits on the waves.

The 15-year-old has just enjoyed the best month of her fledgling career, finishing fourth in the Vissla International Surfing Association World Junior Surf Championships in the Azores, Portugal at the end of September before winning both the Ladies’ Junior (under 16) and Open events at the British National Surf Championships at Perranporth last weekend.

Her performance in Portgual has created history. Since the competition began in Australia in 1964, she is now the highest placed Brit ever to compete in the shortboard competition.

As you might expect from someone who has endured consistent success since she entered her first competition a couple of years ago, Ellie was just pleased to improve on her performance in the 2015 World Championships.

Ellie said: “Last year in California it was my first ever championships and I was delighted to just be there.

“I finished 11th which I was actually quite happy with, but this year I managed to come fourth which was brilliant.

“Going into it, I was just looking to improve on what I did last time and I’ve managed to achieve it so I’m really happy.”

Surfing has been part of Ellie’s life since an early age, her father, Lewis, has always been a keen surfer and started taking to the water as a toddler while her mother, Hayley, is also a fan.

As she got older, her interest grew, so as an 11-year-old Ellie joined the Bude Wave Riders Club.

It was noticeable to many that she had a talent, and Ellie continued to hone her skills by taking to the water as much as possible.

Ellie entered her first tournament a few months later but it was when she won the English National Under 18 Championship as a 13-year-old that people really sat up and took notice.

That accomplishment allowed her to take part in California and since then has entered lots of competitions including the Service Pro Championships, which she won, earning her £800 for her efforts.

The British surfing calendar sees about ten to 12 events a year, so Ellie is delighted to be sponsored by surfing brand, Animal, and online shop, King of Watersports.

Ellie said: “Being sponsored helps so much. They help you get to competitions and prepare in the right way.

“To enter you have to pay a fee and if you’re not really winning or finishing high up then you’re going to struggle to be able to afford it.

“But I enter as many competitions as I can, and I want to become the best I can be so it’s important to surf as much as I can and improve.”

Having only just turned 15, Ellie still has almost two years left of life at Budehaven Community School before she thinks about her next move.

However she is delighted with the support she gets from the school and the pupils.

Ellie added: “The school and people at school are really good to me. I’ve had tonnes of people come up to me and congratulate me and there was even a banner too which I found really nice.”

As she prepares for her GCSEs in just over 18 months’ time it seems that she has a rather bigger prize on her mind.

Next year the Junior World Championships are held in France, and Ellie seems determined to become the world champion in the shortboard category.

Ellie concluded: “Over the next 12 months I just want to continue to improve and enter and win as many things I can. Obviously the big goal is the World Championships next year and I need to make sure that I manage to get into that first and then hopefully have a good go at winning it.

“Winning that will open up so many opportunities for me, to get on the World Champions Tour and the Pro Juniors, but I just need to continue to focus and take things one step at a time.”

If Ellie’s rise continues at the rate it’s going at, it seems that the next big surfing star could be coming from North Cornwall.