Military testimonials

Comments and reviews on Lusty Glaze adventure and training from military personnel

Review by 2Lt S Banham from Troop Commanders Course 50 - Exercise TIMBER SURF - August 2009

Troop Commanders Course 50 has always been ready to take on new challenges and Exercise TIMBER SURF was no exception. The opportunity to go coasteering, surfing and swing across a beach on a zip wire was not one to be missed, the fact that it happened to involve a weekend in Newquay was just an added bonus. So it was, that after the syndicate Battle PT competition, 27 members of the course and the Directing Staff piled into two minibuses to head down to the coast. 6 hours later we finally arrived at our camp, just outside Newquay, and settled into our “luxury” accommodation.

That evening the whole course bonded over a few “quiet” beers in the cultural capital that is Newquay and prepared for the next day in our own unique way. Saturday was an early breakfast followed by transport to Lusty Glaze where the day’s activities were to take place. After signing the usual risk forms and given an idea of what we were about to do, we were all kitted out in some rather fetching wetsuits and helmet combinations and given a detailed safety brief on the format for the coasteering. This was explained as the ultimate adrenalin high, a thrilling activity combining climbing, scrambling, sea swimming and cliff jumping, taking us to otherwise inaccessible parts of the Cornish coast. We were told that routes traverse around the foot of high cliffs and through sea caves and the staff were fantastic, giving useful advice on how to climb out of the water and offering 2Lt Dassanaike some invaluable advice on what to do if he encountered a ‘Sea Badger’.

The next three hours was spent doing exactly what had been explained, navigating the coastline around Lusty Glaze beach, climbing various rocks and practicing our jumping techniques. This culminated with launching ourselves straight off a thirty foot drop into the sea. Everyone took the plunge, even 2Lt Jones who, despite briefly looking like she may bottle it, re-evaluated her situation and after much jeering and cajoling from the rest of the course, threw herself into the drink. Some of the landings left a lot to be desired and quite a few people were walking slightly strangely for a while afterwards, but everyone had a smile on their face.

The next activity was the zip wire and whilst the thought of throwing yourself off a perfectly good path may not appeal to most, a number of the course relished the opportunity to dangle precariously on a thin wire over a beach full of sun burnt onlookers. At 750ft long and 120ft high, this aerial runway is one of Europe's longest, highest and fastest and includes a 50ft free abseil down to the sand. Yet again the staff took great delight in winding up some of the more gullible members of the course offering a lucky few the chance to do it without a safety harness!

The remainder of Saturday was given over to surfing, or rather attempting to stand up on a board. For those of us that had done it before, it came a little easier and much laughter arose from watching the less experienced members of the course attempt to preserve any form of dignity that may have remained; and failing miserably. The day finished with a BBQ and much back slapping on how far we’d all come that day, although given the sunburn that 2Lts Heinrich and Strivens were sporting, it was very much metaphorical!

The next day was a chance to practice and perfect the surfing skills we had allegedly learnt the previous day. Upon arrival at Lusty Glaze we were given the run of the surfboards and equipment to do with as we pleased. Most took this opportunity to get straight back onto the water, but a dedicated few (2Lt Gomersall and 2Lt Butcher) decided this would be the perfect opportunity to dig their way to China. No sooner had they dug what they considered a fairly respectable hole, they were told to fill it in as it presented a health and safety risk! To say they were annoyed would be an understatement but as 2Lt Butcher put it “It’s all good pioneer training!” Despite the temperamental waves many braved the water for the entire day and at the end, most who stuck with it were standing up more than they were falling down. Admittedly this wasn'tt for a great period of time but the sense of achievement was written on everyone’s face.

The only problem with the whole weekend was that it had to end and the early start on Monday morning brought everyone back to earth with a bump. However, even with a four o’clock wake up call, not one person complained, the sign of a truly great training weekend!

Our thanks go to Tracey and Jeremy Griffiths, the owners of Lusty Glaze Leisure and Education Centre, who provided an excellent package for the course and were exceptionally hospitable throughout the weekend.