A Kiwi skateboarder has arrived back in New Zealand after achieving a remarkable first. A 12-thousand kilometre, solo journey on his board that took in Europe, North America and China.
28-year-old Rob Thomson of Christchurch says he undertook the journey to get outside his comfort zone.
Rob Thomson has been around the world, but he has seen nothing of his family for more than two years, so the reunion at Auckland airport today was tearful.
Thomson had little luggage, just a skateboard and a trailer that carries all of his belongings. Recently the skateboard took him across some of the more remote regions of China. But he says the board is nothing special.
"The long board is quite thick, it's about 13 ply thick, and you've got a layer of fibreglass on the bottom which just increases the strength a little bit. Yeah apart from that it's just standard," says Thomson.
Thomson's mother says he has been an adventurer since he was eighteen months old.
"He escaped from home and we went hunting for him everywhere and then eventually found him at the local post office sitting on a counter eating cake , quite happy, so that's when it started," says Rob’s mother Kath Thomson.
Thomson says he undertook the journey seeking something different, and adventurous. He found it in central China, where he shared the road with monks, cattle, kids, and people who just came to look at him.
"It was very difficult to be the centre of attention. In a place of millions, I felt very alone," says Rob.
For all that Thomson says he has found the world to be an extraordinarily safe place.
"I would say that 99.9 percent of the people that I have met were incredibly generous, hospitable and kind, so the reaction was very warm," he says.
Although Thomson is happy to be home with his family again, judging by the way he left the airport terminal, he could be back on the road, and skateboard again, some time soon.
3 News