With a Lot to Lose, 27-Year-Old Surfing Star Goes on a Training Session at 2024 Olympics Venue

No one has to be introduced to Yago Dora, the Brazilian surfing superstar. Dora has been a formidable competitor on the Men’s Championship Tour ever since he defeated Australian surfer Ethan Ewing to win the 2023 Vivo Rio Pro. Although this victory vaulted him into the top five competitors for the Rip Curl Finals, everything he has worked for this season is still in jeopardy since Gabriel Medina, now ranked sixth, may still go up to fifth and take the final hopes from Dora. The WSL has canceled the subsequent day of the Tahiti Pro due to poor wave conditions, so the surfer is using the day to hone his skills in the Tahitian waves.

A video of Yago Dora surfing was released to social media after he had a good first day at the Tahiti Pro. This video went viral because, even on subpar waves, the surfer still appears to have a shot at making it to the Rip Curl Finals.

Practicing surfing at any wave condition

To have any event at all during the WSL season, ideal wave conditions are required. Bad waves at Saquarema have caused problems earlier, delaying the Vivo Rio Pro by a few days. The first day of the Tahiti Pro, though, went off without a hitch. But when it came time for the elimination rounds, the waves weren’t good enough to continue the battle. While waiting for the Tahitian WSL event to begin, Yago Dora has been practicing his surfing skills in a variety of wave conditions.

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Yago Dora’s Instagram video began with a montage of Tahitian roadways and scenery and then cut to Dora riding the waves. The Brazilian surfer didn’t let the relatively small size of the Tahitian waves deter him from riding them. The surfer entered the wave and tried to pull off a barrel, despite the fact that it was quite small. Dora made a few cutbacks as soon as the barrel was finished. He also performed another barrel and then a full 360 in the air.

Dora is preparing for the knockout rounds of the Tahiti Pro, having previously shown himself in the initial round on the Tahitian waves.

Keeping the hopes alive for the Rip Curl Finals

On August 11, 2023, in Teahupo’o, Tahiti, three surfers—Yago Dora, Kelly Slater, and Ian Gentil—engaged in a heated duel for 35 minutes during Heat 1 of the Opening Round of the Tahiti Pro. Teahupo’o’s challenging waves made for a duel among seasoned surfers. On his third wave, Dora scored a 5.50, but Slater only managed a 2.67.

Slater got a 6.67 on the fourth wave, but Dora was able to easily overcome this score by scoring a 5.00 on the sixth wave. With a total score of 10.50, Dora was able to proceed to the bracket stages of the Tahiti Pro, while Kelly Slater and Ian Gentil were able to advance to the Elimination round.

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