Lusty Glaze

Posted April 2oth, 2010 by Manley Hopkinson

Hi everyone,
What a fantastic day it was!
I took the team to Lusty Glaze in Cornwall for a team day last Thursday. An amazing private beach just North of Newquay run by a splendid chap called Howard. We arrived in time for dinner at the nearby Glendorgal Hotel, before making our way to our very private and homely cottage on the beach. Howard was hosting a "corporate sales day" and had invited us down to meet a few and say "Hurrah" a lot!
My very good friend Dave Pearce, Everesteer, explorer and guru, and an ex-Royal Marine took us for a proper Royal Marine beasting first thing in the morning. We knew we were in trouble when he declared "once round the beach to warm up" - 8 laps later we were warming nicely. Dave is an expert at using your local environment for good "Phys"! - running on sand, dragging your team mate, chin ups, press ups, sprints, fireman's lifts and then a refreshing plunge in the frigid Atlantic - we earning our bacon butties that morning.

Getting the team together is so important but tricky at the moment. We had lots to discuss and lots to find out about each other. We need to know every facet of our own and each others characters before we hit the ice in November this year - we will run a "no surprises" expedition! We discussed and sorted so much and allocated specific jobs for all. One of our main focuses was to define how the charity side of the expedition, the Best of British Foundation, will work and also to review our training schedule.

A beautiful proper coffee ("life is too short for poor coffee"), then time to meet the guests and have some fun on the toys at Lusty Glaze - the rock scramble, the death slide (or "zip wire" for the pc inclined) and high wire, then a photo session with another good friend and phenomenal photographer, Baxter Bradford (mind you, you know what they say about silk purses and sow's ears)!

We left the sand that sunny day as a stronger team. We welcomed Charlie Hunter off the "reserves bench" into the "ice team" to be back at the team size I want. And what a team it is. We are all unique but when we come together we are damned impressive. There is a strong bond forming and a respect for each other that bodes well for the ice. I have selected the team based on character, attitude and balance. I feel good, really good about the team I have - bring on the ice!!

Hurrah