Skateboarding Around The World

New Zealander trying for the Guinness Book of World Records’ longest skating trip.

NICEVILLE — After more than four weeks on a skateboard from dawn to dusk, Rob Thomson has developed an easy rhythm.

Six, seven, eight times he pushes off with one foot. Switch. He does the same on the other side, his arms matching the rhythm.

The 27-year-old New Zealander has a long way to go on his beat-up long board. He’s going for the Guinness Book of World Records for longest skateboard journey. His goal is 5,100 miles, more than 1,500 miles longer the current record.

“The main reason is adventure,” he said, pulling off into the grassy shoulder just outside of Bluewater Bay. “To experience a life less ordinary for a while.”

Read the complete article. To learn more about Rob Thomson’s adventures, go to 14degrees.org.

The 14degrees Journey is a proud supporter of the Lowe Syndrome Association, USA. Find out more about the disease and the association at www.lowesyndrome.org.

Personal note from the publisher: My son, Jack Marshall Smith, passed away May 6, 2003 from complications due to Lowe Syndrome, he was 14 years old at the time. I would like to thank Rob for choosing The Lowe Syndrome Association as his charity.

Skate New Zealand Trek Begins January 11th

Words cannot express the appreciation I feel for what the Skate New Zealand crew is about to undertake. It has been almost five years since my son, Jack, died from complications due to Lowe Syndrome, there is not a day that goes by I do not think of him. Efforts such as "Skate New Zealand" will help to bring a cure to this awful syndrome.

Thanks Nate, Adam, Jestah, Sheldon, Kari and to everyone who has donated and or supported this trek.

Please visit the Skate New Zealand website for more information. You can learn more about Lowe Syndrome here.

Skateboarding Across America - On Board For Lowe Syndrome - Revisited

I recently decided to write a book about a cross-country skateboard trek myself and three friends made in 2003. It was called "Skateboarding Across America - On Board For Lowe Syndrome", the crossing was made to honor my son and raise awareness and research funds for Lowe Syndrome, an extremely rare syndrome that only effects boys. There are approximately 350 known cases in the world.

My son Jack Marshall Smith died at 14 years of age from complications due to Lowe Syndrome in May of 2003. He was a wonderful child who brought joy into every life he touched. Even though he is gone, he is still touching lives around the world. In 2006 David Cornwaithe skateboarded across Australia, one of his charities was Lowe Syndrome, and in 2008 Nat Halliday and Adam Colton will be skating the length of New Zealand, they have also chosen Lowe Syndrome has a benificiary.

I hope to finish the book within in the next couple of months, I'll be making regular posts here updating you on my progress. In the meantime you can read the original journal I kept during the 2003 trek by clicking here.