Hall of Fame rider known as the “King of the Skateparks” says crash left him with internal injuries, broken wrist and fingers
Valley News Staff
BMX Hall of Famer Eddie Fiola, one of the pioneers of freestyle BMX and a rider known for decades as the “King of the Skateparks,” was hospitalized after a serious crash at a new Fallbrook skate park (Village View Skate Park) that left him with internal injuries and multiple broken bones, according to a post by Fiola on the YouTube channel RippinBMXbuilds.
Fiola, 61, a resident of Wildomar, described the accident and his recovery from his hospital room at Inland Valley Hospital on YouTube, saying he suffered suspected internal injuries along with injuries to his wrist, fingers, face and abdomen.
Despite spending several days in the hospital, Fiola said he intends to get back on his bike.
“I’ll be out there riding again because I love to ride,” Fiola said.
The accident carries particular significance given Fiola’s history. Few riders are as closely associated with riding concrete skate parks as Fiola, who dominated freestyle BMX competition during the sport’s formative years in the 1980s.
Fiola won five King of the Skateparks titles and four NORA Cups, or Number One Rider Awards, including the inaugural award in 1985, according to USA BMX. He was inducted into the BMX Hall of Fame in 2009 in the freestyle category. USA BMX also credits him as the first rider to perform a 540 in a pipe.
Fiola’s influence extended beyond competition. He helped develop equipment and bike designs during freestyle BMX’s rapid growth, including the GT Pro Performer, one of the era’s best-known freestyle bicycles. He toured internationally, performing BMX demonstrations and helping introduce freestyle riding to wider audiences.
His BMX career also led to Hollywood. Fiola performed BMX stunt work in the 1986 cult film “Rad” and later built a career as a professional stuntman, with work on films including “The Italian Job,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” and “The Dukes of Hazzard.”
Decades after becoming one of BMX’s first superstars, Fiola has continued to ride — which brought him to Fallbrook on the Sunday morning of his accident.
Fiola said he began the day at the Gale Webb Action Sports Park pump track, where he rode with friends. As temperatures rose and other riders began leaving, he headed to another skate park near Lake Elsinore.
Still not ready to call it a day, Fiola decided to drive to Fallbrook.
When he arrived at the new Fallbrook skate park, nobody else was there.
“There’s literally nobody there. There’s not one person,” Fiola said.
Because he planned only to roll around and familiarize himself with the park, Fiola made a decision he would soon have reason to regret: He did not put on his helmet.
“I’m just going to roll around. I’m just going to take it easy. Nothing major,” he recalled telling himself.
Fiola spent about 20 minutes exploring the park, which was unfamiliar to him. He noticed ledges with straight drop-offs and transitions that were smooth on one side but incorporated steps on another.
“I’m taking my time,” Fiola said. “I’m trying to learn the area.”
Eventually, another rider arrived on rollerblades. A man later arrived with a young skateboarder.
Fiola began riding somewhat more aggressively, although he said he still was not attempting aerial maneuvers or jumps.
Then he entered what he described as a peanut-shaped bowl (Avocado Bowl) with a deep end and a shallower end. Fiola estimated the deep portion at about 10 feet and the shallow portion at about 7 feet.
He entered the deep side carrying considerable speed before reaching a relatively abrupt transition toward the shallow side.
That is where things went wrong. “As I hit that transition, it took my bike away,” Fiola said. “It launched it backwards. And so I was a lawn dart going towards the face of the shallow side.”
Fiola said he does not know whether his handlebars struck his abdomen or whether his hands were driven into his stomach when he hit the wall.
He knew immediately that he was hurt. “The stomach is bad,” he recalled. “And then I hit my eye, the whole thing. I’m starting to bleed. I’m looking down, there’s blood on the ground.”
The two people at the park heard him slam into the wall and came over to help.
Fiola initially told them to give him a moment because he thought he could get himself out.
That proved difficult. The bowl had no rollout or stairs, Fiola said. He attempted to use his bicycle to ride or pull himself out, but his injured hand would not cooperate. He later learned that he had suffered broken fingers and an injury to his wrist.
Fiola asked the rollerblader to hold onto his bicycle while he attempted to pull himself up the side of the bowl. The rollerblader began sliding toward the bowl as Fiola pulled.
The other man then grabbed the rollerblader and bicycle, providing enough stability for Fiola to pull himself out.
Despite bleeding and suffering what would prove to be significant injuries, Fiola did not call 911.
Instead, he loaded his bicycle into his 1997 Subaru WRX, which he described as a right-hand-drive, five-speed car, and began driving home — despite having an injured hand he needed to shift gears.
“I didn’t knock myself out. I know I’m good,” Fiola recalled thinking.
He said he was mainly hoping he would not encounter heavy traffic that would require frequent shifting.
After reaching home, Fiola got into his truck and initially headed toward a Kaiser facility in Menifee.
He called his wife, Mindy, a physician assistant, who advised him to go to Loma Linda instead.
By the time Fiola walked into the emergency room, he said there was blood on his face, shirt and pants. Although the waiting room was crowded, medical personnel quickly evaluated him after he reported his visible injuries and abdominal pain.
Doctors performed a CT scan with contrast. According to Fiola, the scan showed fluid around the liver and spleen, raising concerns that he may have suffered a spleen laceration.
As time passed, Fiola said his abdomen felt increasingly swollen and breathing became more difficult.
He was subsequently transferred to the new Inland Valley Hospital in Wildomar, which is a Level 2 Trauma Center. This designation indicates that the hospital is equipped to provide comprehensive trauma care, including 24/7 availability of trauma surgeons and necessary support staff
For the first several days, Fiola said doctors concentrated on his abdominal injuries and the possibility of internal bleeding. Blood was repeatedly drawn to monitor his condition, including his hemoglobin levels.
Fiola said physicians were watching to determine whether those levels remained stable, which would help indicate whether internal bleeding was continuing.
At the same time, his wrist and fingers remained injured. Fiola said he had four broken fingers, a broken wrist, and a tendon injury affecting his middle finger. His fingers and arm were eventually placed in braces while doctors continued treating the more immediate concerns involving his abdomen.
By Wednesday, Fiola said his condition had improved substantially.
His abdominal discomfort had decreased, his breathing had improved and he no longer required supplemental oxygen. He also was performing better on the breathing exercise device used by hospital staff to monitor his respiratory recovery.
Food was another milestone.Fiola said he had eaten nothing since Saturday night before the accident. During his hospitalization, he initially received fluids intravenously and was later moved to a clear-liquid diet.
By Wednesday, doctors allowed him to begin eating again. He also said doctors continued checking his hemoglobin levels and watching for other signs of internal bleeding.
“I feel fine other than my wrist and my stomach feeling like I got hit with a baseball bat by Mike Tyson,” Fiola said.
Fiola said he hoped he might be able to return home the following day.
While hospitalized, he also received an outpouring of support from the BMX community. Fellow riders recorded an “Eddie” chant encouraging him to recover and get back on his bike.
Fiola said he had been reading the messages, prayers and well wishes sent to him on social media.
“I appreciate everybody who sent me wishes and good healing and all that stuff,” he said.
For a rider whose name became synonymous with skate parks more than four decades ago, the accident apparently has done little to diminish his enthusiasm for riding.
DIG BMX has described Fiola as BMX’s “first superstar,” noting that even decades after his competitive heyday, riding with friends continued to inspire him.
Fiola said that remains true. “I’ll be out there riding again because I love to ride,” he said. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBxO9A9LKcg&t=8s
