{"id":126650,"date":"2026-05-19T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tracksmag.com.au\/?p=126650"},"modified":"2026-05-15T09:23:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T23:23:21","slug":"leandro-doras-tour-balancing-act-coaching-rivals-while-cheering-for-his-son","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tracksmag.com.au\/leandro-doras-tour-balancing-act-coaching-rivals-while-cheering-for-his-son","title":{"rendered":"Leandro Dora\u2019s Tour Balancing Act: Coaching Rivals While Cheering for His Son"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a normal side of the Tour,\u201d Leandro told Tracks earlier this season. \u201cMany coaches work with multiple athletes and they end up facing each other. Professionally, I have to support the athlete I\u2019m coaching – that\u2019s my role. At the same time, I cheer for a great show of surfing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“But I\u2019m 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Some kind of surfer coach love triangle that is no more. Photo: WSL.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite no longer working together professionally, Dora said his relationship with his son remains as strong as ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a dream come true,\u201d he said of watching Yago win the title at Cloudbreak. \u201cI worked with him from the beginning of his career until 2024, so to see the level he reached was very rewarding.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Leandro and a young Yago share a moment.Photo: WSL.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Away from the emotional complications of tour life, Leandro has built one of surfing\u2019s strongest coaching stables. His current roster includes Luana Silva, Lakey Peterson, Mateus Herdy and, most recently, another world champion in Italo Ferreira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Italo approached Leandro at Bells. The Brazilian coach admitted he never expected a surfer of Italo\u2019s calibre to join the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a perfect fit,\u201d Dora said. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect an athlete at such a high level, with so much experience, to join the team. It\u2019s challenging, but I\u2019m really enjoying it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His coaching journey began far surfing’s big league. Back in 2002, he was working at a snack bar on Praia Mole beach in Florian\u00f3polis 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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