Jack Robinson, triumphant on Dora shoulders. Photo: WSL//Tony Heff
For the past five seasons, Leandro “Grilo” Dora has been a key figure behind Jack Robinson’s rise on the Championship Tour. Together, they’ve honed his competitive edge, addressed his weaknesses, navigated his injuries, and forged a partnership few on the tour could rival. Now, after years of clear development and growth, their collaboration may be approaching a natural crossroads.
The 2025 season tested Robinson in ways both expected and surprising. “Man, he had a lot of ups and downs,” Dora told me. “He had victories, but also some really early losses. Like at Gold Coast, he ended up losing right away. On the other hand, he had some really good performances, besides the wins in Bells and Teahupo’o. He was a standout at Lowers. He surfed really well there and got third place. Same in Abu Dhabi, he also got third.”
Dora emphasizes Jack’s dedication and focus on improving weaknesses. “He’s a very dedicated guy; he likes to work on his weaknesses. Those two events, both Abu Dhabi and Lowers, would normally be Jack’s weak spots… He managed to improve a lot in that kind of wave. He’s an exemplary athlete. I think he has everything it takes to fight for the title in the next few years.”
A major focus throughout their work was mastering smaller waves, historically Jack’s Achilles’ heel — like the WSL Finals he competed in at Trestles.
“This has been a focus from the start: to work on surfing small waves better,” Dora continues. “Then he realized: ‘It’s the Dream Tour, great waves, but I need to surf small waves well because there are many heats in conditions that aren’t favorable.’ He picked up on that and worked very hard. Jack is extremely focused. He trains a lot. This year, he traveled a lot with his family; with his kid. Balancing family and training was a learning experience. He’s always willing to try something new, evolve, learn new things. Very dedicated, very determined.”
This season, the WSL Finals were set in Fiji — theoretically conditions more favorable for Jack. But even as the waves weren’t a concern this time, another challenge appeared — one that caught everyone by surprise. For years, Robinson had shared training under Leandro with Yago Dora, but in 2025, Yago spent the season with a new coach, separate from both his father and Jack. Yet nobody expected that in the most decisive event of the year, Leandro and Robinson themselves would also be apart.
“As soon as Jack qualified in Teahupo’o, we met right after,” Dora recalls. “I said, ‘Jack, I already bought my ticket to Fiji. Regardless of your result here, I was going to be there anyway because Yago is in the lead. I’m going to watch, to cheer for him. Now it’s up to you to decide what you think.’ So it went like this: I said a few things, he said a few things, and we ended up deciding calmly, really smoothly. We talked and reached a mutual conclusion. He said: ‘Man, I’m a dad now. I get your feelings… I’ll step back from working with you in this event.’ It was Yago’s moment, and everyone on the tour understood it was deserved.”
In his heat, Robinson faced Italo Ferreira in inconsistent conditions. “It’s a heat, right?” Dora reflects. “That’s the fair and unfair side of the WSL Finals. You got fifth, you have to surf five good heats, man. Italo is a monster. He dominated the heat. Jack couldn’t find his rhythm; it didn’t work out. It happens. That’s surfing.”
Robinson finished fifth, a result that combined progress with the sport’s inherent unpredictability.
Even as the WSL Finals concluded, Robinson was already looking toward 2026. The first sign came two months ago, with surgery to properly address a knee injury that had lingered since 2023. Dora explained why it was managed the way it was.
“He injured himself at Bells in 2023, the Olympic qualifying year,” he says. “With the injury, he could either have surgery or not. We assessed it with a team we trust — top-level doctors, trainers, physiotherapists. The doctors said: ‘You can recover without surgery.’ Because if he opted for surgery, he’d miss the Olympics at Teahupo’o, a wave he’s been surfing since he was 12. Brazilian doctors, unlike Australian ones, advised recovery without surgery. He trusted our team, came to Florianópolis, and went through rehab.”
And for Leandro Dora, the decision couldn’t have been more right.
“He had phenomenal rehab. He’s a disciplined athlete — doesn’t drink, sleeps early. That made the recovery possible. He qualified for the Olympics, got into the WSL Finals, and most importantly, won the silver medal for Australia. A huge achievement. But the knee pain was still bothering him. Now he said: ‘I think it’s time for surgery to come back stronger.’ I think it will also change his mindset and help him return even stronger next year.”
The question now is whether Robinson’s return will be with Dora by his side in 2026. “Jack isn’t confirmed for the team next year yet. We discussed a few things… From my side, we’d continue working. It depends on his decision. There are other factors, people around him, still unresolved situations. He’s a team-oriented guy. I think he’ll evaluate it, which doesn’t depend only on him and me but on the whole team. I’m ready for whatever he decides. Whether we work together or not, the friendship remains.”
After five years of evolution and success, Robinson and Dora’s story is entering an uncertain chapter. Jack is focused on recovery, preparing for 2026, and rebuilding both physically and mentally — while fans and peers wait to see whether this powerful partnership, which brought nine CT event wins, will continue or finally come to a close.
