Dave Cornthwaite entered the record books on 16th December 2006 - by skateboarding 3,000 miles across Australia. The 27-year-old has taken four months to cover the distance, beating the record held by American Jack Smith. His journey has taken him from Perth to Sydney... and he added another 618 miles by skateboarding on to Brisbane. Dave from Swansea - known Down Under as the "Crazy Pom" - has been featured on news bulletins across Australia. He was even offered a cameo role in Neighbours.
Mr Cornthwaite, who gave up work to go on his epic trek, hopes to raise £50,000 through sponsorship and donations for three charities: Link Community Development, which supports education in sub-Saharan Africa; the Lowe Syndrome Trust which funds research into a rare disease, and the Australian group Sailability, which encourages people with disabilities to sail.charity. He thanked his support team "who gave up their jobs to follow a bloke on a yellow skateboard across Australia". Dave's support team were Becki McKinlay, Kate Brackenborough, Holly Allen, Dimitri Nicomanis, Dan Loos, Bev Blackburn and Simon Thorpe
The graphic designer has worn out six pairs of trainers and powered himself along with at least one million pushes on his board. He can reach downhill speeds of 55kph (35mph) on the yellow, carbon fibre board, which needed two wheel changes. Big thanks go out to Peter Sanftenberg at Rolls Rolls in Germany for offering friendly advice to a stranger in the early hatching days of this mad journey, and subsequently for his constant support and provision of boards and parts. Visit
He has received messages of support from celebrities including Jonathan Ross, Jono Coleman and Penny Lancaster who are patrons of the Lowe Syndrome Trust, a UK registered charity that Dave is fundraising for. Lowe Syndrome results in cataracts and blindness, muscle weakness, weak bones, kidney and autistic spectrum behaviour problems. The Lowe Syndrome Trust is a small voluntary charity that is achieving amazing results instigating medical research into Lowe Syndrome at Gt Ormond St London, Moorefields Eye Hospital, Addenbrokes Kidney Unit, Imperial College, Dundee Biocenter and University of California San Francisco.
Dave was inspired by Jack Smith Snr, who held the previous record skateboard journey at 3000 miles and whose son, Jack Jr, died at the age of 14 after suffering from Lowe Syndrome.
Dave commented "Jack has been a superb source of advice as I continued to pick his brains about the logistics of a long-distance skate. His three record-breaking journeys across the USA have been a main inspiration behind BoardFree, and his friendly advice left me in no doubt that the Lowe Charities - the Lowe Syndrome Trust UK and Lowe Syndrome Association USA should benefit from BoardFree. There are blisters on the ball of my right foot and on my left heel – leaving me in pain with every push.'
The calf muscle on his right leg – which does most of the pushing – has swollen to the 'size of a grapefruit.' He added: 'My body is struggling to deal with the strain. My immune system is shot and there is little chance my feet will heal completely before the journey is out. But it's great to have got this far and I owe a lot to my support team.' He 'warmed up' for the gruelling charity epic by skating 1,450km (900 miles) from John O'Groats to Land's End, where Dave met Connor (pictured above) who has Lowe Syndrome.
Dave's blog on boardfree states that "the Lowe Syndrome Trust, had a presence in in the form of the Brady and Gardiner families and as young Connor ran around scaring the crap out of everyone by testing microphones and making full use of Elsa (Dave's skatebard) as a transportation device he served as a timely reminder that ... finding a cure for Lowe Syndrome is still very much at the forefront of BoardFree Australia’s aims".
The biggest challenge was crossing 700km (450miles) of Western Australia's Nullarbor Plain desert, where temperatures can reach 48°C before plunging to freezing at night. After celebrating in Sydney's Olympic Park, he said: 'I love a big challenge. The biggest test is mental. If you believe you're capable of reaching your goal and you're sensible about road safety there's very little that can stop you.'
Dave was the first person to skateboard the length of Britain from John O'Groats to Land's End. Dave set out from John O'Groats on 30 April 2006 and took 34 days to complete his journey, which included four unscheduled rest days to recuperate from injury. He arrived in Land's End on Friday 2 June 2006to be greeted by a cheering crowd and was all smiles despite having skated a gruelling 895 miles through the British countryside. In Land's End Dave also met Conor Brennan who has Lowe Syndrome. Dave waite said: "After all the sweat and blood I think I was too tired for tears at the finish line. It's been an incredible, humbling journey, one I'll never forget. The British public has been amazing and I'd like to thank everyone who came out to support me."
Messages:
Congratulations!!!
I'm so stoked for you. To know that you are doing this to benefit Lowe
Syndrome has brought me to tears many times. Hoping to see you in
January! Keep pushin'
(15.12.06)
A - We're still watching your
progress. Well done .Hope your foot will make it .I'm glad you've met
other Lowes syndrome families. It's been a long journey ,stick together
.It'll soon be all over.You will have amazing memories of this
forever .Conor is well ,his leg is still in plaster ,nearly 3 months now
,had the plaster off once back on again he's waiting for you to
finish.!!!Enjoy the rest , enjoy the finish lots of luck Conor and
family.
(12.12.06)
(Lowe Syndrome Trust Trustee)-
Dave, best of luck with your impossible sounding journey. If you can
squeeze in a few half-pipe stunts along the way then we'll really be
knocked out ! But either way, keep on skating
you lovely man you.
(23.05.06)
Penny Lancaster - (Lowe Syndrome Charity Patron) : We think you are doing and incredible job, your strength and good deed is something to be proud of. Rod's son Liam is 12 years old and a skateboard fan, he says Dave is up there with Tony Hawk - Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster
- (Lowe Syndrome Charity Patron) - Dave,
we think you are mad but thanks for raising all those much needed pounds
for the Lowe Syndrome Trust and the other charities. You are a legend,
we love you. Jono and the team at BBC London 94.9FM.
(18.05.06)
Download AudioVideo clips: LBC radio 2004 Dundee GMTV 2004 Nutcracker Ball 2003 GMTV Grant News 2003 2005 Jonathan Ross Video clip
Skateboarding Across the World for Lowe Syndrome
In the summer of 2006 a lone British longboarder will push off from Perth, Australia, with 5,000 miles of coastal road stretching towards his final destination, Brisbane. Skating on a Rolls Rolls skateboard, the tarmac surfing dude is rolling the distance for children around the world who deserve the chance to experience their own personal freedom
For the next year (2006) Dave Cornthwaite from Swansea Wales is running a fundraising and awareness campaign leading up to a world record attempt to cross Australia on a Skateboard. A previous record was set in 2003 crossing America by Jack Smith, whose son, Jack Jr, died at the age of 14 from Lowe Syndrome. UK soul singer Joss Stone signed skateboard (Pictured above right - currently for sale to the highest bidder - email lowetrust@homechoice.co.uk )
One of the charities Dave will support is the Lowe Syndrome Association. From Swansea, he wants the Lowe Syndrome Trust to be the recipient of a share of the funds when the campaign has finished.
In May 2006
Dave will warm up for Australia by skating from John
o'Groats to Land's End. If any universities, Student Unions,
schools, community groups or businesses would like to arrange a
fundraising event, or you can offer an overnight stay please get
in touch and we'll add you to the route. Please contact
Dave if you can help!
Dave will Leave Perth in
late August 2006, then heading down the west coast before heading east
along the infamous Nullarbor. The second half of the journey will be
along a windier route, taking advantage of quieter roads in the most
populated areas of Australia. At some point we'll be going through
Swansea just north of Sydney (it has to be done, as Dave lives in
Swansea, South Wales, UK!) and then the last leg up to Brisbane.
In 2004 4 guys took part in an event called
Skateboarding Across America, On Board for Lowe Syndrome. The leader
of the group was Jack Smith, whose son, Jack Jr, died at the age of 14
after suffering from Lowe. Jack Snr, who holds the present record
skateboard journey at 3000 miles, has been a superb source of advice as
I continue to pick his brains about the logistics of a long-distance
skate. His three record-breaking journeys across the USA have been a
main inspiration behind BoardFree, and his friendly advice to a complete
stranger (me) leaves me in no doubt that the LSA and LST should benefit
from BoardFree.
Dave with be
rolling around Oz on a Rolls Rolls skateboard. Although a member of the
skateboard family, the Rolls Rolls combines a longboardesque ride with a
high-tensile carbon fibre deck, which rest only two and three quarter
inches above the ground . The low deck height enables the rider to get
more energy in each push, and also saves the standing leg the indignity
of bending as much as it would on an average board. A striking yellow
colour and risen wheel wells ensure that the Rolls Rolls doesn't drift
unnoticed through any neighbourhood, there isn't a better board for the
job in hand.
Big thanks go out to Peter Sanftenberg at Rolls Rolls in Germany for
offering friendly advice to a stranger in the early hatching days of
this mad journey, and subsequently for his constant support and
provision of boards and parts. Visit
To make a tax-free donation in the uk see
http://www.justgiving.com/boardfree