Yago Dora Scores First Perfect 10 of the Season in New Zealand

Reigning world champion Yago Dora secured a place in the semifinals of the inaugural Championship Tour event in New Zealand on May 23, 2026, by recording the first perfect 10 of the season. The score came during a high-stakes quarterfinal heat at the famed lefthander in Raglan, where Dora overcame a significant deficit to advance.

Dora entered the final minutes of the heat facing a commanding lead from Cole Houshmand. Houshmand had put the world champion under pressure by posting pocket 8.50s, leaving Dora in a position where he required a score of at least 9.50 to progress.

With just over three minutes remaining on the clock, Dora found the necessary opportunity. He set his line on an approaching wave and executed a massive full rotation aerial, which he immediately followed with a seamless layback.

The maneuver earned a perfect 10, allowing Dora to surpass Houshmand and move forward in the competition. According to reporting from Surfer, the performance ignited the crowd and marked a turning point in a tournament that had struggled with inconsistent conditions.

I’m just thanking God for that opportunity for a moment. Everything seemed like it was lost. Cole [Houshmand] was surfing the perfect heat, he just picked the right waves. My waves were definitely a little smaller than his waves and not as steep and I was just praying for an opportunity, really. I knew I could get the 9.50 that I needed, I just needed a wave to really go for it. The last wave, when I popped up, I saw that little pocket forming and I was like, ok, this is it, I’m going to throw it. I went all the way to the flats and stuck it perfectly. I knew I just had to finish the wave after that. It feels so good. — Yago Dora

Challenging Conditions at Raglan

The inaugural event in New Zealand has been characterized by a difficult competition window. Surfers have dealt with consecutive lay days, and the Raglan break had yet to demonstrate its full potential prior to Dora’s performance on May 23.

The volatility of the conditions was highlighted on a previous day of competition when a heat featuring brothers Griffin and Crosby Colapinto was called off after the pair had competed for only one wave.

Dora noted that throughout the quarterfinal, Houshmand had been more successful in selecting the optimal waves, while Dora’s own waves lacked the steepness and size of those ridden by his opponent.

By successfully landing the aerial in the flats and completing the wave, Dora was able to overcome the scoring gap and secure his progression.

Semifinal Outlook

Following the victory over Houshmand, Dora advances to the semifinals of the tournament. He is scheduled to face fellow Brazilian Italo Ferreira when the competition resumes.