Coaches on Tour are often forced into awkward positions when their athletes meet in the water. Tommy Whitaker has had to sit through heats between the Colapinto brothers, while Jake Paterson has watched Erin Brooks and Stephanie Gilmore square off multiple times this season.
But for Brazilian coach Leandro Dora, the balancing act is even stranger. On tour he carries a double identity – mentor to a growing roster of elite surfers, while still very much being the father of reigning world champion Yago Dora.
“It’s a normal side of the Tour,” Leandro told Tracks earlier this season. “Many coaches work with multiple athletes and they end up facing each other. Professionally, I have to support the athlete I’m coaching – that’s my role. At the same time, I cheer for a great show of surfing.
“But I’m here because of my athletes, they are the ones who financially support me so I have to take the professional side and cheer for my athlete to win the matchup.”
Leandro was forced to choose sides during the season opener at Bells when Mateus Herdy, one of his athletes, matched up against Yago. That followed on from another difficult decision during last year’s WSL Finals where Leandro stepped away from coaching Jack Robinson just before the event which crowned Yago World Champion.
Despite no longer working together professionally, Dora said his relationship with his son remains as strong as ever.
“It was a dream come true,” he said of watching Yago win the title at Cloudbreak. “I worked with him from the beginning of his career until 2024, so to see the level he reached was very rewarding.”
Away from the emotional complications of tour life, Leandro has built one of surfing’s strongest coaching stables. His current roster includes Luana Silva, Lakey Peterson, Mateus Herdy and, most recently, another world champion in Italo Ferreira.
Italo approached Leandro at Bells. The Brazilian coach admitted he never expected a surfer of Italo’s calibre to join the program.
“It was a perfect fit,” Dora said. “I didn’t expect an athlete at such a high level, with so much experience, to join the team. It’s challenging, but I’m really enjoying it.”
His coaching journey began far surfing’s big league. Back in 2002, he was working at a snack bar on Praia Mole beach in Florianópolis when he started helping run training sessions at Aragua Surf Club. Soon after, he was invited to coach Lucas Silveira – the opportunity that launched his career.
Today, video analysis sits at the centre of his methodology. His athletes regularly train together, reviewing footage daily while still tailoring strategies to each individual surfer.
“We create an approach for each athlete,” he explained. “Before heats, we talk individually about strategy. But day-to-day, they enjoy training together and pushing each other’s level.”
That environment has also helped integrate Lakey Peterson, who joined the squad two years ago after a recommendation from former team member Brisa Hennessy. Leandro described Lakey as one of the team’s most dedicated professionals and an important influence on the younger surfers.
Outside of tour events, Dora runs Aprimore Surf camps in Brazil and Portugal, where surfing is paired with yoga, breathing exercises and technical video breakdowns. He believes confidence comes from preparation rather than mindset alone.
“If you’re technically prepared, physically prepared and surfing well, confidence comes naturally,” he said. “The work itself prepares your mind.”
Leandro also stressed the importance of patience across a long season, preferring to focus on incremental goals rather than immediate results. For surfers fighting through early rounds, improving seeding and building momentum remains the first priority before thinking about event wins or world titles.
As the CT kicks off at Raglan, Leandro will be hoping his athletes can continue on their success from the Australian leg. Luana sits at the top of the women’s rankings while Lakey already has an event win to her name. Mateus finished strong at Snapper while Italo’s Duracell bunny act usually guarantees a result at some stage.
