A thrill-seeker from Bradford on Avon, who once skateboarded across Australia, is hoping to be the first person to paddle the entire length of the world’s second longest river.

Narrowboat resident Dave Cornthwaite, 29, who competed in the Devizes to Westminster kayak race earlier this month, is aiming to tackle the 4,000-mile length of the Amazon in South America in 2010, despite only taking up the sport in January.

He aims to paddle from the river’s source in Lago Villafro in the Andes Mountains to its mouth in Brazil, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean.

His warm-up challenges include a paddling 1,800-mile along the Murray river in Australia, which he plans to do later this year.

“I like to do a big warm-up for an even bigger challenge,” he said.

“I am using them as a way to get fit and get my body into the mode of paddling.

“Halfway across my skate in Australia, in 2006 and 2007, I started to find I was sick of travelling on the roads with all the cars and lorries passing by.

“I came to a crossing on the Murray river and it was the most peaceful part of the entire journey. As soon as I left there I felt sad, so I thought it would be nice to go back to kayak.”

The skateboarding attempt saw him travel 4,500 miles - from Perth to Brisbane - raising money for three children’s charities.

The travel writer and graphic designer is renowned for attempting to date 100 women in 100 days in 2007 - the details of which will be published in a book he has written due out this summer.

Talking about the dating challenge, he said: “I was probably more tired at the end of doing that then when I skated across Australia.”

Mr Cornthwaite lives on a narrowboat on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Bradford after moving from London a month ago.

He said: “I really like Bradford on Avon and Wiltshire itself is a great place. It is a beautiful part of the world to live in.

“I’ve never lived on a boat before, but it is good to be close to the water to prepare me for the Amazon challenge and I will probably write a book about living on the boats at some point.”

Mr Cornthwaite’s equipment for the kayaking challenge has been provided by the Family Adventure Store, in Hilperton.

He said: “The idea of paddling across seven countries and taking on the mighty Amazon, less then two years after taking up paddling seems like quite a good adventure to me.

“It is going to be a big challenge logistically, as well as physically and mentally, but I am confident it can be done.”

For more details or to sponsor Mr Cornthwaite, visit www.thegreatbigpaddle.com