FAN DANCE EXERCISE HIGH MOON
JOURNEY -CHALLENGE – RACE TEST YOURSELF ACROSS SAS SELECTION HEARTLAND BY NIGHT DELIVERED BY AEE
BRECON BEACON MOUNTAINS
SUMMER SERIES 2018 7th July
WINTER SERIES 2019 5th January
Fan Dance Exercise High Moon is the UK’s first and original Special Forces Selection based Load Bearing night march and trail run race. This unique challenge provides an experience far removed from any other night event, staged across a dramatic, hair-raising and truly spectacular mountain route in the true SAS Selection heartland of the Brecon Beacons. The backbone of High Moon is faithful to the standard Fan Dance route, but with numerous route deviations that take on some of SAS Selection’s most legendary and iconic features. The one constant is to anticipate a very long and demanding night in the high hills whatever the weather. Make it to the FRV (finish line) and there’s a complimentary and hearty post march hot meal and drinks as well as a firm handshake and a coveted High Moon cloth finisher’s patch presented by one of our former SAS/SBS Directing Staff.
High Moon follows a fully way marked course with no navigational requirements. The event is open to everyone and not exclusive to veterans of the standard day time Fan Dance. High Moon can also be used to qualify for the test march series, our most demanding and gold standard events.
KEY TIMINGS & LOCATIONS
Base camp and registration will be staged at the Storey Arms outdoor centre on the A470. The summer edition Fan Dance High Moon race will start at the iconic old red phone box and the winter edition will start at Pont arDaf car park (600m south of the Storey Arms outdoor centre.)
REGISTRATION
SUMMER
RACE DAY: Load Bearing & Clean Fatigue 1800 to 21:00
WINTER
RACE DAY: Load Bearing & Clean Fatigue 16:00 to 17:15
START TIMES
Load Bearing & Clean Fatigue joint start: 21:30hrs
Load Bearing & Clean Fatigue join start 17:40 hrs
CATEGORIES
High Moon will follow the same category format as the standard Fan Dance. There will be Load Bearing and Clean Fatigue (running without weight) elements to the race in both a Main Field & Masters divisions for both male and female athletes. Categories will be recognised and further divided according to the following age ranges and weight requirements.
Main Field Men: 16-45 yrs carrying 35lb plus food & water
Main Field Women: 16-45 yrs carrying 25lb plus food & water
Masters: 46+yrs carrying 25lb plus food & water
Clean Fatigue runners have no weight carrying requirements but must still carry a small pack holding basic safety items. Load Bearers must wear boots (military or civilian trekking type) and Clean Fatigue runners must wear trail or fell running shoes (no trainers). Clothing & equipment lists will be emailed out once registered.
THE ROUTE & RV PROTOCOL
Fan Dance High Moon is a non-navigational race with the route fully way-marked by military grade cyalume lights and flashing beacons. Our Mountain Safety Team and Directing Staff provide additional cover at all junctions and hazardous segments. A Fan Dance High Moon specific route map with easily identifiable key features and colour coded location segments will be issued along with an event safety card.
Along the route you will pass through a series of DS manned rendezvous points. You will be required to log in with the DS to have your name and race number recorded and your suitability to continue assessed. The same RV procedure is employed by the DS on the real Special Forces Selection course and is in place for safety reasons. The DS manning the RV points are there to help you, so if you have any questions, concerns, injuries, incidents to report, or are simply unsure of where to go next, the DS will help you and offer any assistance as is necessary. You’re in safe hands on the high hills at night with AEE. Our organisationhas an unblemished safety record operating in the most extreme environments and adverse weather conditions in the UK and on a wider global level. In our arsenal we possess the UK’s first and only internal event mountain rescue team, providing an unrivalled SAS experience.
