Darryl Virostko, better known by his surfer nickname "Flea", was born on December 25, 1971, in Santa Cruz, California. He attended Santa Cruz High School, graduating in 1991.
Throughout his career, Flea has made a name for himself as a professional big wave surfer, earning the title of three-time Mavericks competition winner. His impressive skills have also landed him appearances in several surfing films, including Riding Giants, Step Into Liquid, and Billabong Odyssey.
One of his most notable achievements is the 2004 wipeout on a 50-foot wave at Waimea Bay, Hawaii, which was declared the "Wipeout of the Decade" by Surfer magazine.
However, Flea's life has not been without its challenges. As of 2009, he has been open about his struggles with addiction and has since dedicated himself to recovery. He now runs a program called "FleaHab", which aims to help other recovering addicts learn to surf and adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Flea's journey has also been documented in the documentary film The Westsiders, directed by Josh Palmer. The film explores his difficult upbringing and his struggles with addiction on the west side of Santa Cruz.
