MOST go to Las Vegas hoping to win money and Albury’s Daniel Black is no exception.
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He can’t wait to have a crack at the table and slots, but first there is a small matter of a world title, a great prize and a fair bit of national pride.
Daniel, who can lay 620 bricks an hour, on Wednesday will vie for the title of “world’s best bricklayer”.
Mr Black has been building things on the Border for 21 years, ever since his parents told him to go out and get a job.
But the owner of Blacks Bricklaying never expected his apprenticeship would take him to Las Vegas for the 2015 Spec Mix Bricklayer 500.
“We are judged on speed and quality and there are up to 30 judges,” he said. “It’s pretty full on, I’m quite nervous.
“I like doing it more than ever now — it’s a good job. You can do what you want and travel the world.”
Mr Black will be up against 23 of the best from the US and Canada. His best mate, Ryan Corcovan, is his off-sider.
“I’ve lived a life of brick that’s for sure and I think a few brickies will get a laugh out of this,” Mr Black said.
He has been training for the is event in his shed with the help of other brickies, his wife and daughters.
“I’ll just try to lay as many bricks as I can in an hour — last year 644 won the competition,” he said.
“I’ve done four time trials and I started out at 440 — 620 was my best.
“I hope I can beat last year’s total, but win, lose or draw I’m there to have fun. I’ll give it a crack.”
But the trip is not all about a frantic hour of brick-laying and competition.
“I just can’t wait to get the competition out of the way so I can hit the casinos,” he said.
The brickies will compete for a prize pool of $100,000, with the winner taking home a Ford F250.
Mr Black said had been able to get to the US to compete with the help of the Australian Brick and Blocklaying Training Foundation and Boyle and McKinnon Building Materials.
His wife, Keisha, said the competition wouldn’t be the only challenge for her husband.
“To lay that amount in one hour is intense,” Mrs Black said.
“He’s had young guys who have been helping him train — they have been pushing him. They have been really supportive.
“Our daughter has been time checking and pumping up the music.
“She’s just been making him get fit for it. It’s quite funny.
“Trying to keep two brickies out of a casino will a challenge.”