More than 1500 people lined Kaikohe's main street yesterday for a parade to welcome three young heroes home.
Chris Huriwai of Otaua, near Kaikohe, successfully defended his world street unicycling title in Italy last month, while Kaikohe 13-year-old Samuel Tzikoucos placed third in the junior division. Sam La Hood of Dargaville, who turned 16 during the championships, won the world women's title.
More than 1200 children from seven mid-North schools lined the parade route along Broadway, Station Rd and Memorial Ave, breaking into spontaneous haka as the trio went by. They were joined by hundreds of spectators spilling from shops and homes along the route.
The schoolchildren had made flags and banners congratulating the trio and declaring their love for Chris; the kids of Kaikohe East School had made hundreds of masks using a photo of their one-wheeled hero.
The trio was welcomed into Kaikohe Memorial hall by the kids of Kaikohe Intermediate School, the current Northland kapa haka champions, and speeches by kaumatua Te Wati Erueti and Northland MP Mike Sabin.
Community board chairman Win Stephens awarded certificates recognising the three for their sporting achievements and for representing Kaikohe and Northland on the world stage.
Mr Sabin said the trio proved that success did not happen by accident, but through attitude, effort and refusing to be deterred by failure. He also acknowledged the Olympic silver medal won this week by another Northlander, Blair Tuke, and only half-jokingly said he would lobby to have unicycling recognised as an Olympic sport.
Unused to such attention, the three unicyclists appeared almost embarrassed by their elevation to sporting hero status. Sam said she had started riding seriously only after meeting Chris two years ago, and now she was being honoured with a parade. "It's crazy. I'm not used to it - but it was awesome of them to put it on for us."
Samuel said it was amazing to see people cheering his name. "It really makes you feel appreciated," he said.
Chris said he had been impressed by his proteges' performance at the world champs and the way they had kept their composure in their first serious competition. All three are vowing to contest the next world champs in Canada in 2014.
The parade was organised by Mike Shaw, pastor of Kaikohe Christian School.
He challenged all those present yesterday to take away the pride they felt in the young champions and "make it into something for yourselves".