11-year-old rides pogo stick up the world's steepest street

Thursday, 25 January 2018

Harry Willis, 11, went up the Dunedin’s Baldwin St - the world’s steepest - to raise money for charity.

Harry Willis didn't regret riding his pogo-stick up the world's steepest street, but he did regret drinking fizzy beforehand.

'It was hard,' the 11-year-old, who was suffering from the stitch, said after his successful quest.

'It was a lot harder than I thought.'

Harry Willis, 11, went up Dunedin's Baldwin St - the world's steepest - on his pogo stick to raise money for charity.

He did not rule out doing it again, but next time would be for 'fun'.

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Dozens of supporters lined the famous street to support Willis, who was fundraising for a charity close to his heart.

Originally he aimed to raise $2500, but raised almost $7000 for Ronald McDonald House in Christchurch.

That was because his sister Darcie, 4, spent six months in Christchurch Hospital's child cancer ward last year.

That meant his family, who welcomed a baby brother this month, made extensive use of Ronald McDonald House.

Before his attempt Willis said he hoped he wouldn't touch the ground. He completed the trip without doing so.

'It is a good challenge and I do like challenges.'

In preparation he used his pogo stick for 25 minutes each day.

Baldwin St was listed by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's steepest street – the 161.2 metres of its upper most section climbed a vertical height of 47.22m, an average gradient of 1 in 3.41.

On its steepest section the gradient was 1 in 2.86.

See Harry's fundraising page here.