Kona student races to the Onewheel world title
When HTA Kona’s Jahfari Silsley first saw a Onewheel, he thought it was just a lame hoverboard. But as soon as he hopped on it, he realized how powerful it was — able to reach 25 miles an hour and go for hours on a single charge.
With some experience as a skateboarder, Jahfari quickly found his groove on the board. It started with casual rides on local trails. But it turned into something much bigger, and this summer Jahfari won the OneWheel Race for the Rail World Championship in California.
He’s now one of the youngest and fastest one-wheelers in the world. In addition to Race for the Rail, he won the season champion title as the rider with the most overall points on the professional circuit. His next big goal? Collecting both titles plus rider of the year in the same season.
Jahfari says he’s grateful for the support of the Onewheel community, including his sponsor @808stoke_mokes whose support has allowed him to travel to the mainland and compete at the highest level.
But, success aside, Jahfari says racing isn’t just about winning. He’s equally passionate about teaching others how to ride and inspiring younger riders to push their limits. He gives lessons through @hawaiionewheeladventures, introducing new riders to the sport and helping to build Hawai‘i’s Onewheel community.
Balancing school with a professional racing career isn’t easy, but Jahfari says HTA’s blended schedule makes it possible.
“There’s a lot of work, but the schedule keeps me in line,” he explains. “And when I do go out and hit the trails, it makes me enjoy it more because I’m not having to think about my assignments.”
His dad, Wil Silsley, agrees.
“It’s great having a school that supports his interests instead of making things harder,” he says. “They have worked with him and it’s awesome to see their effort.”
In the sport of OneWheeling, racers maneuver their electric-powered boards across rugged outdoor courses — it takes exceptional balance, strength, and agility.
