After beginning his career as a graphic designer, Cornthwaite would step away to pursue his love of travelling in 2005. His penchant for adventure began then when he became the first person in history to travel John O’Groats to Lands’ End by skateboard. He would follow this up with his second exciting expedition, a project where he embarked on twenty-five 1,000-mile journeys using non-motorised transport. This remarkable effort, under Expedition1000, has seen Cornthwaite complete 14 journeys, of 25 so far, spending 676 days on the move over the 13 years.
The 22,438 miles he has travelled thus far included his debut trip under the expedition which saw him travel 3618 miles by skateboard from Perth to Brisbane in 156 days in 2006 – a Guinness World Record for the longest journey by skateboard.
He did away with his skateboard when he sailed the 1476 miles across the Murray River via kayak in 2009. He completed a 1396-mile tandem bike ride from Vancouver to Vegas with his wife in 2011. The same year he sailed 2404 miles of the Mississippi River via paddleboard in 82 days.
Cornthwaite’s next adventure was to be on board the scientific yacht, Sea Dragon. During the 17 day expedition, aimed at ocean research and self-discovery – he sailed 3156 miles from Cabo to Hawaii with a team of ten. He would go on to bike, swim, trike, scoot, water bike and even ride a hase pino (hybrid tandem bike) to make his way across deserts, cities, rivers, coastlines and paths to reach 22,438 miles and over half of his Expedition 1000 journey.
Cornthwaite’s passion for adventure has allowed him to continue to accomplish incredible feats, pushing his own boundaries time and time again. He is an inspiration to people who aspire to reach the loftiest of aspirations. He also writes about his experiences through his personal blog, in freelance magazine features and in books. His first book, entitled 'BoardFree: The Story of an Incredible Skateboard Journey Across Australia' and published in 2008, was based on his world-record-breaking skate across Australia.
As a motivational speaker, Dave Cornthwaite is one of the finest, most insightful and animated personalities available for events. A revered explorer worldwide, whose journey has been followed by hundreds of thousands of people online and around the world, his experiences are a fascinating addition to any occasion.
