“If I’m going to weld, it might as well be for myself,” we couldn’t agree more. Join Todd Gronsdahl from Aqualu Industries and Big Rich on Episode 225. Be sure to listen on your favorite podcast app.
6:57 – I took any job I could get because I really didn’t have any skillset
11:15– Rich: I asked your wife, “Is that your boyfriend?” She says, God, no, that’s my husband, my boyfriend would be way older and way richer!
13:30 – I bought a dilapidated Land Cruiser, and I was driving home one day when the roll cage fell through the wheel well onto the tire.
19:06 – the hardest part is just getting the aluminum body as close as you can to replicating the original
30:18 – the biggest challenge of being in Canada and exporting is location, we are packed in a little town in the middle of the mountains, so transportation is a real pain
35:59 – my wife has plans for us to buy a diesel pusher, and hook the vehicle up and go have some fun
37:37 – my simple rule of thumb: don’t spend more than you make and be humble
Special thanks to 4low Magazine and Maxxis Tires for support and sponsorship of this podcast.
TRANSCRIPT
[00:01:40.020] – Big Rich Klein
As a hands-on type of guy, my guest this week wanted to work for himself, not others. And now he has spent over 30 years building that business. My guest is Todd Gronsdahl of Aqualu Industries. Good morning, Todd Gronsdahl. How are you doing this morning?
[00:01:59.580] – Todd Gronsdahl
I’m doing fantastic, Big Rich. How about you?
[00:02:02.470] – Big Rich Klein
Excellent. So let’s talk a little bit about you and find out about you and your company, Aqualu. But first, let’s dive back in the years and answer the question, where were you born and raised?
[00:02:19.280] – Todd Gronsdahl
Oh, God. Kalvington, Saskatchewan, a very small town, probably 1,200 people, middle of Saskatchewan.
[00:02:28.570] – Big Rich Klein
And what What was it like living in such a small community? I would imagine Saskatchewan is not a booming metropolitan area, any of it, really. Maybe Saskatoon or however you say it. But what was it like?
[00:02:45.580] – Todd Gronsdahl
Yeah, Saskatoon was the biggest one. Well, to be honest with you, I was three when we left, so we moved out to Kelowna here in 1965.
[00:02:52.560] – Big Rich Klein
Oh, okay. All right. So you don’t have really any memories of Saskatchewan?
[00:02:58.050] – Todd Gronsdahl
Correct. Yes.
[00:02:59.510] – Big Rich Klein
And What precipitated the move for the family from there to Kewlowna?
[00:03:09.580] – Todd Gronsdahl
Well, I think lifestyle for sure. A very, very cold winter flat flat. I’ve seen my parents numerous times from moving from there to here.
[00:03:23.070] – Big Rich Klein
Things would have been a lot different if you had stayed there, huh?
[00:03:26.500] – Todd Gronsdahl
Absolutely. I’d probably be a farmer.
[00:03:29.350] – Big Rich Klein
Yeah, I I’m glad you made the move. Glad you made the move.
[00:03:33.320] – Todd Gronsdahl
No, for sure. Yeah.
[00:03:37.190] – Big Rich Klein
So, Kewlowna. I mean, I was just there for the the BC Overland Rally. First time beyond going to like, Vancouver or, I’ve been up to Canada a couple of times for off-road expos.
[00:03:51.740] – Todd Gronsdahl
Right.
[00:03:52.440] – Big Rich Klein
And then a visit of Vancouver when I was freshly married. So, I mean, that was years and years ago. What was What was Kelowna like back then? Was it still the recreational hub that it is now?
[00:04:09.370] – Todd Gronsdahl
It’s definitely a very tourist town, and always has been. But, oh, man, back then, I think it was maybe 50,000 people. And now with surrounding areas, that’s probably closer to 280 or 300,000 people.
[00:04:26.200] – Big Rich Klein
I don’t doubt that. Just the traffic as we came into town on a Thursday was pretty incredible.
[00:04:39.260] – Todd Gronsdahl
Yeah, it’s a nightmare. We’re tucked inside the mountains and it’s hard to get around here for sure.
[00:04:47.550] – Big Rich Klein
Right. I would say that it’s at the bursting point almost, especially when people come in for the weekends to recreate. People that don’t know there’s a huge lake there.
[00:05:00.410] – Todd Gronsdahl
Yeah, it’s a beautiful lake, 90 miles long, lots of water sports for sure. READ MORE
