It has been said that the true test of character is the ability to return from adversity. In wakeboarding, injuries and setbacks are part of the game for everyone who rides at the professional level, and most can persevere. There are a few comebacks, however, that stand out as examples of what true champions are capable of.
When you hear the words “potential amputation,” it is difficult to stay positive, especially after spending three weeks in a hospital and five months on heavy antibiotics. Raphael Derome was dealt a pretty difficult hand when his recovery from an elbow surgery did not go as planned. In and out of the hospital with ruptured ligaments and an infection that kept coming back strong, the outlook was bleak. With his elbow then at…