Welshman to skateboard across Australia

A Welshman is jetting out to Australia to begin a 4,000 mile (6,437km) trek across the country - on a skateboard.

Dave Cornthwaite, from St Thomas in Swansea, believes it will take four months to complete and smash the world record for long distance skateboarding.

In June he notched up his first record when he skated 900 miles (1,448km) from John O'Groats to Land's End.

Dave, 26, said that feat was "just a warm up" for his marathon Down Under which is due to begin next weekend.

His route from Perth to Brisbane will take him through hundreds of miles of scorching desert and, if he succeeds, will earn him a place in the record books. He has to beat the current skateboarding distance record of 3,000 miles (4,828 km).

Dave said: "I know from the UK journey that it's going to be punishing both physically and mentally but I am determined to do it.

He foresees the main problem will be the heat.

"I plan to do most of the skating in the early morning because it will be far too hot during the day to do anything," he said.

Dave only took up skateboarding in March 2005 but soon gave up his graphic designing job because he loved it so much.

In May and June the former Swansea University student got on his skateboard to complete the mammoth skate across the UK.He has to beat the current skateboarding distance record of 3,000 miles (4,828 km).

Dave said: "I know from the UK journey that it's going to be punishing both physically and mentally but I am determined to do it.

He foresees the main problem will be the heat.

"I plan to do most of the skating in the early morning because it will be far too hot during the day to do anything," he said.

Dave only took up skateboarding in March 2005 but soon gave up his graphic designing job because he loved it so much.

In May and June the former Swansea University student got on his skateboard to complete the mammoth skate across the UK. He has to beat the current skateboarding distance record of 3,000 miles (4,828 km).