BRAZILIAN TEMPEST:
DOES YAGO DORA’S WORLD TITLE MEAN THE STORM IS BACK?


Photography by Pete Frieden • Words by Michael Ciaramella




What was the moment in your 2025 championship year where you felt the most doubt?
Yago: I think it was at Pipe at the beginning of the year. I had all the preparation. I was feeling ready. And then going into that event, which is one I really like, I love surfing Pipe, the waves were terrible for my first few rounds and I ended up losing in the elimination round. It’s just tough to start like that after preparing so well and feeling so ready to start the season. It was bad, but I think it also set me up for the rest of the year in a weird way.

What was the moment where you thought, “This is my year to become the best in the world”?
Yago: I felt like that before the year even started. But during this season, I think it was after the Portugal win. I didn’t start the season that well in the past, but I’d have some really big results in the back half of the season. But to start the season with the win and a couple other results to back it up was a really good setup for the rest of the season. So I knew, okay, if I started this good and I do good again in the back half, I can win this thing.

What surprised you most about yourself in the title heat?
Yago: Just how good I felt going into the heat with how much pressure was involved, how much was on the line. And yeah, just that feeling I had was, I’m really proud of the way I felt, the way I surfed. I was just able to feel comfortable and surf the way I liked in the heat and not be super nervous and doubting all my decisions, making many mistakes. I felt like I played a pretty smart heat also, not just the surfing part. And yeah, I was just proud of that, the way I was able to perform and my mindset.



Did you have any superstitions or rituals you perform for good luck?
Yago: I made a different promise at each event that I’d have to keep if I won the event. In Portugal, we had to jump in this super cold-water fountain in the middle of the city. It was like zero degrees that night and super windy, and we had to go and jump in the fountain. And then for Lowers, I had to go all the way back from California to Brazil wearing the jersey I used in the final. And now here in Fiji, I did and amazing haircut [laughs].

What did you picture when you closed your eyes before the final?
Yago: I was just asking for protection, asking God to guide me. Whatever happens, it was his choice. I was letting him take control, leaving my faith in his hands, and just asking to be blessed with good waves during the heat. And being confident and having my board work really good, and just make the right decisions. That was what I was asking for.

How did you sleep the night before the finals?
Yago: I went to bed early, like 8:30, and I slept pretty well. But then I woke up at 3:00 am and I couldn’t sleep anymore. So after that, a lot of thoughts came into my mind and I couldn’t get back to sleep.



And after your win?
Yago: Pretty bad because I went to bed really drunk [laughs].

What were you most proud of during your championship year that has nothing to do with winning?
Yago: I’m proud of how much I have matured. I think not only as a competitor, but as a person as well. And of the decisions I’ve made in my life and in my career. They have been working for me, so I’m really proud of that.

Now that you’ve conquered the world, do your goals change?
Yago: Not really. I achieved that one dream of mine, but I’m still going to be chasing this dream of surfing for my life and competing on the world tour, it’s what I love doing. And I love to try to get better each year, and that’s what I’m going to keep trying to do.

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