World Roller Games: On a roll to China

Whanganui and NZ roller hockey goalie Kerry Woodthorpe is in for the culture shock of his life later this year. Photo / Stuart Munro

Whanganui maintenance man Kerry Woodthorpe is counting down to the biggest culture shock of his life.

The Whanganui and New Zealand senior representative men's roller hockey player is one of 10 selected to represent the country at the inaugural World Roller Games in China later this year.

The FIRS (Federation of International Roller Skating) World Championships - Roller Games 2017 is the first Roller Games in the World Championships and will welcome the opening ceremony on September 2.

Nine professional athletic competitions and performances, including artistic, alpine, downhill, inline feestyle, inline hockey, rink hockey, roller derby, roller freestyle, skateboarding, speed skating and marathon open.

Woodthorpe's area of expertise is rink hockey, a discipline he has practiced for just on four years as goal keeper.

"Roller hockey is what I do, that's it," Woodthorpe said.

The 42-year-old late comer to the sport will be at the Roller Games between August 26 and September 11 in Nanjing, China.

Nanjing is in the heartland of the lower Yangtze River region in China, which has long been a major centre of culture, education, research, politics, economy, transport networks and tourism. It is the capital city of Jiangsu province of People's Republic of China and the second largest city in the east China region and has a population of more than 8.2 million. The Nanjing Metropolitan Region includes surrounding cities and areas with a population over 30 million.

"I've been to Aussie and Raotonga and that's it, so I'm expecting this trip to China to be a massive culture shock."

The level of play will also test Woodthorpe and his Kiwi team mates, a fact not lost on the national coach.

"Our New Zealand coach has sort of prepared us. The main players in the world are the professionals from the likes of Spain, Argentina and Portugal and they will make up Group A. coach has warned us we will probably be lumped in with Australia, South Africa, Macau and maybe even India, so it's not going to be easy," Woodthorpe said.

"I've played a few trans-Tasman tests at senior and masters level and we have beaten Australia, but this will be very different - we might be a bit behind the eight ball, but it's an experience not to be missed."

Woodthorpe is the maintenance man at Summerset In the River City in Wanganui East and he has full backing from the rest home villagers.

"They've been great running raffles and other fundraising activities to help me get to China."