Meet Rhys – a 38-year-old dad, electrician, and long-time UBX member who’s gearing up to take on the ultimate challenge: trekking to Everest Base Camp.

Living in Sydney with his two daughters, Rhys manages a busy career as a level 2 electrician, coordinating teams working on power poles and underground cables. Despite the demanding schedule, he still makes time to train at least three times a week.

“I try to balance work and life as best I can,” he says. “Getting to the gym helps me stay grounded.”

UBX Journey

Rhys joined UBX in 2021 after nearly eight years away from the gym. The structure and simplicity drew him in – along with the chance to learn boxing.

“I loved that I could just rock up, train hard, and know I was getting a balanced workout,” he says.

Why Everest?

Climbing to Everest Base Camp has been on Rhys’s bucket list since high school. “There was a school trip opportunity years ago that fell through,” he recalls. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to experience.”

Training for the Trek

To prepare, Rhys has been combining UBX sessions with regular hikes and bushwalks – reconnecting with a love of nature he discovered years ago.

“Getting out for hikes has been really peaceful,” he says. “It’s reminded me how much I missed just escaping into nature.”

A former Australian Army soldier, Rhys is no stranger to endurance. “We used to go on long exercises and pack marches, but altitude will be completely new to me.”

The Goal

“The thing I’m most excited about is reaching base camp and looking up at Everest,” he says. “To see what people have achieved – what they’ve pushed through to reach the summit – that’s going to be incredible.”

UBX Community

“The UBX community has been awesome,” Rhys says. “Having Chad at the gym, who completed the trek last year, to give me advice and motivation has been gold.”

As for what he hopes to take away? “Perspective,” he says. “We’re all busy trying to get ahead, but this experience will be a reminder of what’s really important.”

We’ll be cheering Rhys on every step of the way as he takes on this incredible challenge and represents the UBX community on the slopes of Everest.

Stay tuned for updates from the trek – and join us in wishing Rhys and the team the best of luck as they take on the adventure of a lifetime.