Darryl "Flea" Virostko, a renowned professional big wave surfer, hails from the picturesque coastal town of Santa Cruz, California, where he was born on December 25, 1971. Virostko's educational journey began at Santa Cruz High School, from which he graduated in 1991.
Throughout his illustrious career, Virostko has made a significant impact on the surfing world, boasting an impressive three-time victory at the prestigious Mavericks competition. Moreover, he has appeared as himself in several surfing films, including Riding Giants, Step Into Liquid, and Billabong Odyssey, further cementing his status as a surfing icon.
In 2004, Virostko made headlines with his dramatic wipeout on a colossal 50-foot wave at Waimea Bay, Hawaii, which was subsequently dubbed the "Wipeout of the Decade" by Surfer magazine.
However, Virostko's life took a dramatic turn in 2009, as he began his journey towards recovery from addiction. He went on to establish the "FleaHab" program, a unique initiative that combines surfing and physical activity with addiction recovery, aiming to teach fellow recovering addicts a new way of life.
In addition to his work with FleaHab, Virostko has also shared his personal story of struggle and redemption in the documentary film The Westsiders, directed by Josh Palmer. The film chronicles his tumultuous upbringing on the west side of Santa Cruz and his subsequent struggles with addiction to drugs.
