By Bert Hayes, staff writer

Skateboarder Rob Thompson of New Zealand rolled out of Key West, Florida on December 7 and cooled his wheels at the Convention and Visitors bureau in Orange Beach on January 10th. Kimberly Shumack of CVB listened to his marvelous story, fortified him with maps and directions to get him past Mobile on his way to San Diego, California. Shumack called The Islander and asked if we would like to listen to his adventure. The Islander so wished.

Five years ago and at twenty-two years of age, Thompson left New Zealand to take a job as a translator in Japan. Office and job became too confining for his athleticism so his dreams turned to travel and breaking Guiness World records prior to returning to New Zealand. Also his goal was to raise awareness of Lowe Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder only in boys.

Thompson wished to avoid the severe winters of Central Asia so he packed his bicycle on a train through China and resumed his biking through India and Central Asia and did not get snow and ice on his beard until he cycled through the Caucasus of northern Turkey. Thomson was fond of Asia, especially Kazakistan where unbelievably the people would push money into his hand and ask him to buy necessities.

In Germany Thomson realized that biking was too fast and he was missing too much of country and culture so he shipped his beloved bike to New Zealand and bought a cross country skate board. Then came Switzerland and western Europe and particular adventures. Through the mountains he devised a canvass sail which controlled his speed downgrade.

Thompson has a full media pack with Global Positioning which records time and distance as well. He had a fisheye lens on his video camera but lost it in the Netherlands and had to go to a broad angle lens. Nevertheless, his route will be fully documented for record purposes and he hopes to write a book about his adventure upon return to NZ.

In Gulf Shores Thomson was treated to a NZ fish and chips lunch and a visit to Blonde John’s surf and skate shop. Thomson was awed by the inventory in John McElroy’s shop and received en route information about footwear and skate repair. Blonde John was also fascinated by the whole idea of a world on skateboards.

Thomson is doing what a great number of young people dream about. He has a complete website which will be updated. Here it is – www.14degrees.org. Blonde John will be tracking this adventure and you may wish to go by his shop near Original Oyster House and talk with him. Thomson departed Gulf Shores for the Ft. Morgan Ferry and left thanks to Blonde John’s and the Wheel House Restaurant.

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