Rider News

A happy ending to a tragic incident in South Africa. Felipe Malaga suffered a serious head injury from a collision into the hay-bales on Lloyd’s Left. He had brain surgery and was induced into a coma to relieve the stress from inflammation in his brain. He explains in this Peruvian news report that his girlfriend, Carolina Verastegui, had to sign a paper giving them permission to operate with only a 30% chance of survival. Doctors say that is the minimum survival rate that they are allowed to operate on. It was an extremely high risk of death for Felipe, but miraculously, he pulled through and is making a speedy recovery. He explains that he is at 80% of a full recovery, he feels better every day, only suffering from some dizziness when he lays down in bed, and tiredness. He says doctors gave him six months of rehabilitation recovery time and he will definitely be able to skate again. He says he can start practicing on his board in one month and in six, we will be seeing him in the hills again. He is planning on competing in the South American circuit this year and in 2014 he’ll be back full throttle. He promised his girlfriend, now future wife, Carolina, that he will win the world title in 2014, as part of her wedding ring. (more…)