Not your average seventeen year-old, Surf Lifesaving Champ Cody Rychvalsky is obviously motivated by success.
If it wasn’t enough to juggle the competing commitments of Year 12, a school-based carpentry apprenticeship and a gruelling physical training program five-days-a-week; Cody’s success in the sand and sea have him competing in many State and National titles throughout the year.
Placing first in just about every local and Queensland-based comp including the highly coveted ‘Fastest Man on the Sand Series’, earlier this year Cody was also hand-picked to join the Queensland Cyclones Team. Made up of the ‘best of the best’ the Cyclones went on to compete at the Australian Interstate Surf Lifesaving Championships in Victoria.
A professional competition for Australia’s finest Surf Lifesavers to showcase their skills in an elite setting, Cody’s representation for QLD is obviously a huge achievement. But for someone not willing to gloat, a simple “yeah it was pretty massive” (to be able to compete) is the best form of self-promotion we’ll get from this quiet achiever!
All about consistency, Cody continued the winning streak within the national comp, placing first and second in each individual event. A nail-biting result, the final score saw Cody’s team took first place ahead of NSW by only two points. Sure to be surrounded by screaming fans, media and officials the teen apprentice concedes that “I suppose it was pretty exciting. I mean you go in knowing it’s the biggest competition”.
Obviously not one to boast about his success, Cody’s relaxed and consistent nature will certainly hold him in good steed throughout his school-based apprenticeship.
The Nambour Christian College teen started his school-based apprenticeship in Year 11, meeting his employer Lee Grant through a mutual connection at the local surf club. “I was really lucky to find Lee, he’s a really great Boss. I work onsite one day a week during the school term and then pretty much full-time in the holidays. I only take time off if I have to compete”.
The perfect fit for such a busy apprentice, Blue Dog’s online training enables Cody to keep up-to-date with his theory content around school, training and work commitments. Introduced to Blue Dog by Lee, Cody prefers studying his theory online and finds the system easy to navigate. “I really like the online learning. It’s great that I can pick up where I left off whenever I want, because it’s always there.”
While we all like to talk about online training making life easier, Cody’s quick to note that it doesn’t mean the theory content is easy. “The Blue Dog system really helps you learn, especially if you get something wrong because you have to go back and review the question before continuing. I remember all the questions I got wrong now because I had to go back over it!”
An established fan of Blue Dog’s training, Lee Grant of
Grasshopper Construction and Design enjoys the flexibility of Blue Dog Training. With two (now completed) full-time Blue Dog Apprentices and school-based Cody, Lee finds the online learning model of great benefit to his business. “It’s great that the apprentices can make their way through the training at a consistent pace, while knowing there’s always support from the Trainers if they need it”.
Noting that Blue Dog provides “hands down the best training”, Lee also appreciates the value of trade-qualified trainers. With skills and experience in the field, our Trainers understand what’s happening onsite and provide real support to Apprentices and Employers. “Kerry is a big part of why I like Blue Dog so much. He’s hands-on when he’s onsite and helps the boys with a tough but fair approach. He’s not just talk, he really does have a wealth of knowledge.”
When asked about his busy school-based apprentice, Lee is confident he’ll do well in carpentry. “He’s a great kid. He’s enthusiastic, has common sense and is easy to teach onsite. I’ve worked with qualified tradies who don’t have the same positive attitude that Cody has, he’s definitely got what it takes to be a great carpenter”.
If his dedication to training is anything to go by, we’re as confident as Lee in Cody’s attitude and motivation towards the trade.
With the final year of High School, an apprenticeship to chip away at online and onsite, loads of physical training and Surf Lifesaving competitions; we’re sure 2016 is going to be a big one for Cody! We wish Cody all the best from the Blue Dog community and look forward to cheering him on in the upcoming Surf Lifesaving National Championships from his home club, Maroochydore.
