Nutri-Grain ironman: Sydney teen Charlie Verco in surf series call-up for Kendrick Louis

At the start of the surf life saving season no one had heard of this teenager. Now he’s rushing north to be part of the Nutri-Grain ironman series after a shock call-up.

Teenage ironman Charlie Verco has been called into the ironman series.

North Bondi surf life saver Charlie Verco had a nice weekend planned out visiting a mate in Wollongong.

Instead the 19-year-old found himself hightailing it to Kingscliff to be part of the final three rounds of the Nutri-Grain ironman series from Friday to Sunday.

“I quickly sacrificed seeing my mate when I heard the news,’’ Verco said after being told by his coach he was in the series as a replacement for the injured defending series champion Kendrick Louis from Sydney’s northern beaches.

Teenage ironman Charlie Verco has been called into the ironman series.

“It was such a shock. It’s bee a dream of mine since I was about five.’’

The unheralded young ironman has been quietly notching up strong results in events in both NSW and Queensland in recent times after failing to make it to the second day of the Nutri-Grain ironman series trials late last year.

A third in the Shannon Eckstein Classic last weekend - ahead of the likes of current Nutri-Grain series leader Ali Day and former series champion Matt Bevilacqua - confirmed the North Bondi surf life saver as a rising star of the sport.

“I can’t wait to show what I’ve got,’’ said Verco ahead of Friday’s fourth round of the series.

“I’m in the mindset to give my best and just have fun.’’

Nutri-Grain Ironman and Ironwoman leaders Ali Day and Lana Rogers.

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The teenager, who is doing a Bachelor of Science and a Masters of Mathematical Sciences at Sydney Uni, first sprung to attention when he won a modified Coolangatta Gold at Bate Bay at the start of the season.

His third place finish last weekend behind Jackson Maynard and Matt Poole confirmed his credentials.

“I just kept up my training and worked hard and have been rewarded with some great results recently,’’ he said.

Friday’s fourth round of the iron series will see athletes race a 40 minute event over a M-shaped traditional course.

Each of the disciplines of swim, board, ski will be completed two or three times, depending on the conditions.

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