Team News

Richie Lovett Undergoing Cancer Treatment

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 17 January, 2006 : - - Aloha Sponsored & World Ranked No 23 Surfer - Richie Lovett, is undergoing Hip surgery in Los Angeles, California to remove a rare malignant tumor. Lovett started experiencing problems with his right hip during the final stages of the 2005 top tier Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Championship Tour (WCT).

Initial scans were done prior to the remaining few events of the season, the results of which indicated there was indeed a problem and that further tests needed to take place. After completing the 2005 season Lovett and wife Amanda, then preceded to fly out of his home base of Manly, NSW Australia, shortly after Christmas, to Los Angeles to seek specialist attention.

Post his initial surgery on January 3rd 2006, biopsy results came back detecting a rare malignant tumor. The official definition being a Clear Cell Chondrosarcoma, a low grade, very slow growing cancer tumor that does not respond to radiation or chemotherapy. The only option to remove the tumor has been to undergo another surgery. Lovett's surgery is due to be completed on Monday 16th January 2006 at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.

The surgery involves removing part of Lovett's femur bone in his right leg and replacing it with an artificial prosthesis. This is the only way to make sure that surgeons extract all the tumor cells and that the chances of the tumor growing back are drastically reduced.

Obviously Lovett is completely blown away by the news, however he remains positive saying last week " I will face this thing head on and fight. I'm staying positive mentally and I look forward to getting physically strong again soon.  My wife Amanda has been amazing, supporting me every step of the way".

33 year old Lovett has been competing at the top level of surfing for 10 years on the WCT tour, with consistent ratings (a top ranking of 15th in
2001) and a WCT win at Trestles 2003 under his belt.

In 2005 Richie's highlights included a quarter final finish at Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach, scoring the cover of the November issue of Tracks magazine and a brilliant trip to the Mentawaii Islands chain (Indonesia) in September which reaped him a great deal of photo publicity in Australian based surfing magazines.

Richie's awesome ability as a surfer, his easy going and honest nature has made him not only one of the most feared and revered competitors on the World Championship Tour, but also one of the most respected amongst his fellow peers & the industry. News of his current situation has filtered throughout the Surfing industry & surfing friends, with support coming from all corners of the globe.

Plans are underway for a fundraising event to help show support for Richie - details will be released in the coming weeks. For now major sponsor Aloha, joins Richie's other sponsors Watercooled, Electric & Surf Hardware International, his family, friends and supporters in wishing him the best for his surgery and a speedy recovery.

www.aloha.com.au

More USA/Cen Amer. surfing news available here
Check the latest West Coast Surf Reports and Forcasts
Subscribe to Surfervillage News-Alerts

Samuel Jackson

Team News - Surfersvillage