KAYLE Enfield is hopeful a wrist injury won't keep him out of the water for too long.
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The talented Port Macquarie surfer has had to watch from the shore as many of his mates have paddled out and caught barrels for the last week.
He's still not sure how he suffered the injury, but the focus is now on recovery.
"I dislocated something in my thumb which has kept me out of the water for a couple of weeks now which is a bit annoying but it happens and you've got to keep moving forward," he said.
The teenager suffered the injury during a heat at The Barney Miller Charity Surf Classic at Sawtell last month although it didn't stop him registering a semi-final finish.
"It was one of the funnest comps I've ever done and it was good to surf some heats with mates again," Enfield said.
With COVID-19 restrictions gradually being eased Enfield admitted it was satisfying to "feel those competitive vibes again" at Sawtell Main Beach.
"It was pretty awesome to surf new spots and try to push yourself to your limits as much as you can," he said.
Enfield is confident his hand injury won't keep him out of the Ride the Wave Festival in Port Macquarie on June 18-20.
It will be the only surf event held in the Hastings in 2021 and comes on the back of the highly successful Australian Open of Surfing in November last year.
"There are so many good surfers around here so it'll be fun to surf with friends, idols and people you've looked up to for so long and tried to replicate," Enfield said.
"It'll be a good challenge - I'm ready for it."
The goofy-footer was excited about the prospect of seeing regular surfing events held at his home breaks.
"There's only been one or two comps here in the last five years, so I think nurturing the young kids by having a comp here regularly is only fair," he said.
"Hopefully it builds into something bigger."
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