It’s wild to imagine that Brazilian surfer Yago Dora was born in Curitiba, a place without an ocean. Despite not having easy access to the waves, Dora’s love for surfing developed rapidly. The credit goes to his father, a former pro surfer, who introduced him to the sport and taught him the basics. Right from the start, it was clear that Dora had a natural connection to the water, even while riding smaller waves as a beginner. He quickly gained momentum and started creating a stir of his own. By the time he turned 15, Dora had landed his first sponsorship deal, and his technical riding style has led him to remarkable success at big-league surfing competitions. He’s won a couple of significant QS events and secured a spot in the 2018 CT after a breakout season in 2017. Flash forward to 2021, and Dora finished an impressive ninth in the world rankings. What sets him apart however, is his incredible versatility. Even as a goofy footer, he became one of the first surfers to master a backflip with flawless rotation.