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“Ray White was a natural fit for me once I came home to Blenheim.
“It’s a great team here in Blenheim and the Ray White machine that supports us is amazing.”
Ray White Orewa agent Roger Sumich’s road cycling career led him to travel all over the world, even competing at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Roger was also selected for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, but similar to Graeme’s story was unable to compete due to the boycott.
He also competed at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane in 1982 where he claimed the bronze medal.
“We were living in Mt Albert above a shop and, when I was 10, my 15 year-old neighbour was a cyclist. I used to go up there most days and watch him clean his bike, I was hooked,” Roger said.
“When I was 12 my parents bought me a bike, but it wasn’t a racing bike, so I picked strawberries all summer to buy my first racing bike for $50.
“I participated in my first race when I was 13. I came last, but the second race I won.”
He said in 1980 he got a coach who changed the course of his career, leading the next six years to be very successful ones. He made the LA Olympic Games in 1984 for the road race.
Roger followed his passion for cycling to Europe.
“I left for Holland in 1976 and went there every year until 1980, followed by 1981, 1982, and 1984 which were spent in Italy,” he said.
Roger said his time in Holland and Italy was a major highlight of his cycling career, even learning to speak both languages.
After ending his career in 1986, Roger bought and sold a home in Howick which led him to take an interest in real estate.
“I love real estate and we have owned many properties over the years,” he said.
“I love selling, love it when both vendors and buyers win, love referral business.
“Ray White Orewa is a great little office and the Hibiscus Coast market is a powder keg ready to explode in the coming years as it is still undervalued.”
