As a community club, run entirely by volunteers, everything we do relies on senior members stepping up to develop the skills and fitness on the water that keep themselves and others safe in this dynamic and uncompromising environment.
The club offers a range of activities for senior (16+) members in the hope they keep us all active and able to enjoy the wonderful coastal landscape on our doorstep. If your joining to support your child(rens) journey in lifesaving, why not give it a go yourself? Whether you are surfing, surf-lifesaving or simply exploring the coast from our amazing cove, sharing surf fitness and experience in the water can unlock a world of discovery and new skills.
Senior (16+) Swim session at Truro High School. Swimming is the best way to maintain surf fitness and confidence in the water through the darker months (short of taking a surf trip). Sessions are free for club members and non-members are welcome to attend up to three sessions before deciding whether to join.
Read more about our Swim Sessions below…
Please book in advance on the link below so we can keep track of numbers:
Keep fit with a workout that takes advantage of our cove’s natural environment of insane inclines, steep steps and heavy rocks to deliver a challenging (sweaty) exercise experience. Unusually, this one is mainly dry but may end with a dip in the sea (or tinny) to cool off!
Check back here for 2026 start date.
Don’t let the groms have all the fun! Our Have-A-Go Thursdays “Drippers” are an opportunity for older members to try all the cool stuff the Nippers get up to. The session is multi-level and runs according to conditions and what people want to do. Most evenings involve a bit of swimming, board paddling or Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), jumping off rocks and playing in the waves, often followed by a drink in schooners. A full wetsuit is essential.
Check back here for 2026 start date.
Slippery Eels is a sea swimming group that runs every Monday evening during the summer from Trevaunance Cove. It starts and ends with the changing of the clocks, meeting 7.30pm at the clubhouse (time may vary depending on sunset). Explore the cove and get fit with a bunch of likeminded swimmers. A full wetsuit and swimming hat are essential. Swimming hats are available to purchase from the club.
Check back here for 2026 start date.
This session is more focussed on the Sport aspect of Surf Lifesaving. It’s a great way to challenge and develop your surf fitness through a focus on repeated, higher intensity exercises designed to leave you a little out of breath, rather than the longer distances or life saving skill based exercises covered in other sessions.
Check back here for 2025 start date.
Covers the skills necessary to become a qualified lifeguard. The award is assessed through a combination of continuous assessment and online knowledge tests so a commitment to attend all the sessions is vital. It is a physically demanding award with a timed (pool) swim and beach run forming part of the assessment.
Wednesday from 18:30 and Saturday from 08:00.
Surfing – but in a boat! Grab an oar and experience the thrill of being on the ocean and riding waves as part of a team of 5. Male and Female crews – new crew always welcome!
Pool swimming maintains and develops water confidence over the winter. Short of overwintering in the Mentawis this is the best way to level up surf fitness so you’re not on the back foot and being out-paddled by the groms when the long days of spring arrive.
It takes a leap of faith and imagination to head out for your first swim at 8pm on a Tuesday evening, but why not give it a go? For support, why not find a friend and lift share the journey to Truro Girls school. Non club members are welcome to do up to three sessions before paying subs.
At these sessions, the pool is divided into five lanes. We aim to create a multi-level activity suiting all club members. Steve kindly provides a set of activities on laminated cards, one side HARD and the other MEDIUM but this is entirely optional. – the middle lanes tend to be a bit more focussed with the edge lanes taking a more relaxed approach. The goal is to get stuck in and give the activities a go rather than achieve perfect technique. Most of us equate back stroke to water-up-the-nostrils and a length of leg-kick to a form of torture but give it our best shot (for half a length anyway).
A typical set will comprise of:
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Constructed prior to the European influence of the Roman empire; the Truro Girl’s School Pool measures 25yds rather than 25m (for an approximate result, divide the length value by 1.0936133). This takes 10% off the set above, but no one need know: “Yeah, I nailed 100 lengths” ;-)
Some of the exercises we have a go at (often badly/messily) follow:
The fingertip drag drill focuses on your arm position as you are recovering from each stroke. Dragging your fingertips across the top of the water as you recover from each pull forces you to control your arm movement. It also prevents you from wasting energy or moving your arms haphazardly after each stroke.
To do this drill, begin by swimming freestyle as usual, then after you pull under the water and begin to bring your arm back up, drag your fingers over along the top of the water as you return your hand to the start of the stroke position. Be sure to keep your elbows more parallel to the water. This drill helps bring awareness to your arm position during recovery.
Extending your body and your arms helps create a fluid stroke and get the maximum distance out of each stroke. While you can subconsciously shorten your arm strokes in an effort to move faster, it is important to lengthen your body while performing freestyle for this stroke to be fluid. The catch up drill will help you become aware of how you should be extending your arms during your stroke.
Begin with your standard freestyle kick and pull, then keep your left arm extended forward not moving until you pull with your right arm and return it to the extended position. Then pull with your left arm and repeat the move on the other side alternating as you swim down the lane. As the name implies, this drill done properly feels as though your right arm is catching up to your left before you can perform the next stroke and vice versa.
