Longest Journey by Skateboard-world record set by
Rob Thomson
Christchurch, New Zealand -- 28-year-old Rob Thomson
has come home after a 2½-year journey and 12,159 km on his
skateboard-setting the world record for the Longest
Journey by Skateboard
.
By the time he arrived at his parents'
Halswell home he had worn out three pairs of shoes, three
sets of wheels, three skateboard decks and had endured three
crashes over the 12,159km expedition.
Photo: Dean Kozanic / The Press ( enlarge
photo
)
He spent $15,000 during the 850-day trip, but
returned with only a $1000 debt that he planned to pay off
by writing a book about his adventures.
The Canterbury University graduate was working
in Japan as a co-ordinator for international relations when
his contract was up for renewal.
Instead of renewing it, he decided to take a
"long detour home" and cycle from Japan to England.
Somewhere near Switzerland, the man who was "definitely
not a skateboarder", ditched his two-wheeler in favour of
four wheels. "I only planned to trial skating 1500km from
Switzerland to England to see if it was an efficient way to
travel," he said.
In northern Florida in 2007, he spent New
Year's Eve with bikers. "Think of the biggest rednecks you
can imagine and it was these guys, but they were so nice.
"We spent the night around a bonfire, one of
their neighbours played the fiddle and they were shooting
each other with Roman Candle fireworks. It was amazing."
Thomson proclaimed the United States and Uzbekistan
as the most hospitable nations.
"They are in such contrast to each other politically
and religiously, but it shows the humanity of people no matter
what their background is. They both had such a spirit of generosity."
Thomson was looking forward to someone breaking
his record. "It's not something that requires much skill,
just a lot of time and a bit of determination."
Related world records:
Youngest
to solo airplane and helicopters on same day-world record
set by Errick Smith
Most
miles paddled in 24 hours on Stand Up Paddle Board
- world record set by Justin DeBree
Longest
Stand Up Paddle board journey
- world
record set by Justin DeBree
Fastest
circumnavigation using Biodiesel-Earthrace sets world record
Biggest
New Year Party-world record set by Rio de Janeiro
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
