Dora started late. Then, he soared.
Born in Curitiba before moving to Florianópolis, Dora’s first time on a surfboard came at the age of 11, later than so many of his peers at the top of global surfing. By 21, he was on the tour, contending with big names like compatriot Gabriel Medina and Australian Mick Fanning in 2017.
His father was his first coach – and one of the world’s best.
When Dora took up competitive surfing, he didn’t have to look far for a coach.
His father, Leandro “Grilo” Dora, has worked with some big stars in the sport including Adriano de Souza and Jack Robinson.
So, it might come as a surprise that in 2025 he made a bold move: he found a new coach in Leandro da Silva.
He’s bouncing back from heartbreak.
Dora’s win this year has special meaning.
In 2024, he narrowly missed out on the WSL Finals. He finished sixth after strong results earlier in the year in El Salvador and Brazil.
It was part of a disappointing season that also saw him fall short of earning Olympic qualification. Compatriot Gabriel Medina edged him out of a chance at the Paris Games at the ISA Games.
2025 has been a breakout season.
2025 has been a total turnaround after disappointment in 2024 – perhaps sparked by those missed moments a year ago.
In addition to his recent WSL Finals win, he’s captured two Championship Tour events in 2025: one in California and the other in Portugal.
His surfing is about more than gold medals.
Even after his recent coaching move away from his father, Dora remains deeply connected to his surfing roots.
It’s something he says he tries to keep in mind when he’s out competing.
“I started for fun, and I try to remember that every day,” he told Revista Trip. “I surf because I love it.”