Brazil's Reigning World Champ Just Inked a New Sponsor

The shot of good news broke through the haze of a New Year's hangover like the hair of the dog that surfing needed right now: 2025 world champion Yago Dora and Vissla have joined forces.

"It’s a privilege to be part of the family, and I’m very excited for everything we are going to build together," Dora shared in a press release. "The future is bright, let’s do thisss!!!"

"What sets Yago apart is his versatility in every condition, paired with a style that’s among the best in the world," added Vince de la Pena, VP of Global Marketing at Vissla. "And what makes his story truly unique is the way he built his career: starting as a free surfer, transitioning to the WCT, and now becoming the first world champion to emerge from that path. We’re incredibly stoked and honored to welcome Yago, whose values and approach to surfing align perfectly with our vision of putting surf culture first."

Parting ways with longtime sponsor Volcom, Dora and Vissla have shared that the newly forged relationship will extend well beyond just another sticker on the nose. Paul Naude, De La Pena and team have done a remarkable job building Vissla into a brand that puts community, art, culture, and surfing's heritage front and center, and with Dora they'll be even more forward-thinking with forthcoming film and creative projects.

Born in 1996, falling in love with surfing in Florianópolis, Brazil, early on Yago's father, Leandro Dora, could tell there was something special about his son. From the onset, his casual attitude and effortless style had him begged as a generational free-surf talen, but over the years he evolved into a competitive weapon. Joining the WSL Championship Tour in 2017, he's finished in the top ten four out of the last five years. His career culminated with an impassioned performance at the 2025 WSL Finals in Fiji, where he blitzed through world number two Griffin Colapinto to take his first world title.

"I have this notebook, and at the beginning of the season I wrote that: I wanted to win two events this year; I wanted to qualify for the Finals Day in the top three; And I wanted to win the world title. And I did all that," Dora told SURFER in Fiji last September.

Dora will join an eclectic crew at Vissla, who's team includes shapers like Danny Hess and Donal Brink, artists such as Thomas Campbell, and of course, some shit-hot surfers like Matty McGillivray, Eric Geisleman, Wilem Banks and Andrew Jacobson.

"I’m truly happy to be joining the Vissla team, to be involved with amazing people on a brand that embodies the true values of surfing," added Dora.

The 2026 Championship Tour doesn't kick off until this April, so Dora has a few months to settle in to the new Vissla relationship and get ready for his world title defense -- which will be no easy feat at world champs Gabe Medina and John John Florence make their return.