In most sports, a second crack at the world title is rare. In bricklaying, it is almost unheard of.

That is what makes Team Amuso so compelling.

This month, Kilmore bricklayer Damian Amuso and his long-time mason’s tender Scott Law will once again represent Australia at the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500, widely known as the Bricklaying Olympics. Held annually in Las Vegas as part of the World of Concrete, it is the largest and longest-running bricklaying competition in the world.

For Damian, this is not just another overseas job. It is a rare opportunity to build on unfinished business.

A rare return to the world stage

With more than 25 years in the trade, Damian is no stranger to pressure. But the Bricklayer 500 takes things to another level. Teams are given just one hour to lay as many bricks as possible under strict judging rules. Speed matters. Accuracy matters more. One mistake can undo minutes of hard work.

Damian will be supported by Scott Law, a mason’s tender with over 22 years’ experience and someone Damian has worked alongside for the past four years. The pair know each other’s rhythms, timing, and limits, a critical advantage in a competition where every second counts.

What makes this appearance historic is that Team Amuso is the first Australian team to return for a second attempt at the event.

Their first outing came in 2019, when Damian competed alongside his wife, Tara Amuso. That appearance made history in its own right, with Tara becoming the first woman ever to compete as a mason’s tender in the event’s history, a record that still stands.

The husband-and-wife team finished an impressive sixth in the world.

Seven bricks short of victory

Since then, the fire has not gone out.

In their most recent attempt, Team Amuso finished just seven bricks short of the winning total. Seven bricks. In an hour-long competition, that margin is barely a blink.

That near miss has reshaped how the team approaches preparation.

Training has become highly structured, borrowing from elite sport rather than traditional trade practice. Sessions are run like competition days, with interval-style bursts, timed stoppages, video reviews, and meticulous tracking of where time is gained or lost.

“We have treated this like game day prep,” Damian said previously. “Every movement matters.”

In the United States, bricklaying competitions are treated as serious sport. Live crowds, cheer squads, commentary, and regional qualifiers are all part of the scene. It is a far cry from how the trade is typically viewed back home.

“Most Australians are unaware that a world-class competition of this scale even exists,” Tara Amuso has said. “But over there, it is a genuine spectacle.”

Big stakes, bigger spotlight

The stakes are significant.

The winning team walks away with a large American 4×4 truck, typically valued at around $100,000, along with additional cash prizes. More importantly, the competition places bricklayers in front of a global audience, with over 60,000 attendees at the expo and millions more watching via livestream.

For Australian trade professionals, that visibility matters.

It challenges outdated perceptions of bricklaying and shows that the trade demands skill, precision, fitness, and mental toughness. It also highlights a pathway that goes beyond the job site, something Damian hopes will inspire younger Australians to consider the trade.

A win, or even another strong showing, could also help build momentum to bring a similar competition format to Australia, creating a platform that celebrates excellence rather than just output.

Family, focus, and a fast turnaround

Despite the scale of the event, Team Amuso’s trip will be short and sharp.

Damian and Scott will spend just four nights in the United States before flying home, keen to be back with their families. Damian, in particular, is racing the clock to return in time to celebrate his youngest son’s second birthday.

They will be cheered on remotely by their wives and children, with plenty of early alarms set back home. The competition will be livestreamed from 10am Las Vegas time on January 21, which is 5am on January 22 in Melbourne.

More than a competition

At its core, the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 is about far more than bricks laid per hour.

It is about pride in trade, mastery of craft, and showing that building skills can stand shoulder to shoulder with any other elite performance discipline. For Australia, Team Amuso’s presence on the world stage is a reminder that local tradespeople can compete, and belong, at the highest level.

Win or lose, Damian Amuso and Scott Law are doing something rare: putting Australian bricklaying under the global spotlight, one brick at a time.

Author: TGB Editorial