SAS Selection Challenge - The Fan Dance

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Filmed & Edited by Liam.

[@Dr.Ian-Plect]

To keep this in context. - the fan dance is 1 march out of 4 weeks of daily marches undertaken by UKSF selection candidates - the whole 4 weeks is just the first phase of UKSF selection, which spans 6 months total - further into selection is the jungle, with even more arduous terrain to be covered daily, and for even longer; 6 weeks - but before and after the jungle are several other selection phases, all needing to be passed just to get into 22 SAS or the SBS

[@superdoo78]

Always one isn't there

[@Jeric-gq7pr]

Just incredible isn’t jt

[@mattallen6424]

Did you watch it all ?

[@davidpeat184]

Always a "it's not that great of an achievement" kind of guy that will make themselves heard for no reason other than their ego.

[@christaylor491]

@@superdoo78I think it needs pointing out for context, as the uneducated in SF selection could think it’s quite easy to pass selection.

[@stefanp6233]

Liam, that was me holding you up on pen y fan! Great seeing you in person. Felt almost surreal lol. You smashed the dance might have to give this one a go one day. Keep up the great work with all you’re doing 👊🏽👊🏽

[@chapman9230]

I first did it as a teenager in wellington boots. Later on I was homeless for a while and use to wild camp there. Now I am in my 60s and miss those hills so much. Waking up and seeing the luminous lichen on the rocks competing with the brilliance of the stars. Spending nights shivering with my dog sharing a sleeping bag. Struggling to get the stove going as the gas was too cold. Happy days.

[@renukasadventuresuk]

You're in my top 3 favourite youtubers. Love your content. I find you such an old soul. Knowledgeable, polite, driven, and a good heart.. rarely found in todays younger generation. Followed you for a while now, and i think you're a role model for younger people. Look forward to more content. Much love. Ren.

[@Robert_DeVille]

I went up Pen Y Fan & Cribyn straight after as some "character building" leadership training in the navy in the early 90s. It started off nice & beautiful & ended up with horizontal sleet & zero visibility. Luckily we didn't have to do it under time pressure, but it was a long walk over the mountains. Wouldn't want to have to do that again in a rush, so well done!

[@oreosandwiches]

Pen Y fan (Pen-a-van) and its the highest mountain in South Wales, Snowdon is the highest in Wales

[@wonderwalluk1568]

came here to say the same, either way a great video Liam. Keep the content coming. Its very inspirational.

[@benironside1264]

“Well actually…” 😂

[@tersemerkhet4633]

Yeah beat me to it 😂

[@Yougottalaugh-p9u]

Unbelievable weather, never got weather like that in the 1 & 2 week exercises I did, during basic training, finishing with a 26 mile route march in full kit with the assault course at the end, and then One week to recover doing what we called the Brecon shuffle before passing out, well done mate.

[@garphykeks]

Well played pal! Well played indeed💪👊🏆After being RTU'd at the end of a Fan Dance in the 70's (Not a proud moment!) our lass and I went back in '18 and thoroughly 'enjoyed' it. I seem to remember being dropped at the rangers hut/station way back then......

[@johninman1354]

Every time I hear of that place I think of sennybridge.dont think I ever saw the sun once while I was there... you know the saying if it ain't raining it ain't training... takes me back some cold wet weather... best thing about the place was the 4 tonner back to the depot.. happy days..

[@suzannesnow7485]

Way to go Liam! Love how you are able to focus on the beauty despite the pain! ❤🎉🏔️

[@Mike-rw2nh]

Liam, I did promise you half a packet of Jaffa Cakes for filming yourself doing this to yourself. Massive Props!!!

[@neilpountney9414]

I think you should go all out and give him the whole packet :)

[@janetmariaburke4208]

I enjoyed watching you suffer lol. No, seriously, my respect for you has grown ten fold. Well d9ne. I loved the sound of the wind. The views were incredible.

[@Llewy15]

Cracking time Liam - fair play. Although a slight caveat from a local; the Fan Dance is 15 miles in total. You turned around slightly too early. But as stated, still a cracking effort.

[@homersimpson1183]

i did it with a load of ex regiment blokes years ago and the route they set was under 15 miles, think was 13point something/just under 14

[@nigelsheppard625]

The Storey Arms isn't a gateway to pain and suffering, but a gateway to a mental and physical challenge. Pen y Fan is the highest mountain in South Wales - yr Wyddfa is the highest mountain in Wales.

[@mikes8873]

Great job mate! Keep up the videos. Love the positivity and authenticity.

[@roybarford]

Well done! Tough run! I’ve done it a few time in the Army and as a civvi! Be proud!

[@davidcurno6067]

Bought back memories this did!! Used to be up there every weekend traipsing around those mountains. Great fun, great cardio but torture on the knees and feet coming down. Fan Dance is a hard slog, only did it once and didn’t even bother timing myself😂

[@mrep9460]

We never used to do it in lovely weather like that though. 100mph wind gusts were when we got sent to do it. Lads were blown clean off the hills. Loved it

[@rebeccaevans1786]

I have hiked up Pen y Fan and Fan y Big separately but I have never done a hike as testing as this in that area. I think it's great how you're able to self-motivate to do challenges like this, it must take a lot of mental fortitude (aside from the obvious physical challenge).

[@roof30]

I’d forgotten how punishing this is. I did half the route a year before my transplant and that nearly ended me. Great to see you doing this Liam.

[@276tracey]

That my friend was EPIC ! congratulations on making it under the time allocated...you deserve a medal

[@karloverbury1432]

Banging effort mate, the turn around point is slightly further than the post where you turned around, old car park by a railway station. The roman road where you was experiencing no wind is a life saver from the hills isnt it. Well done pal

[@keirenoutdoors]

Good effort Liam! Side note: would be good to see you tackle the Cape Wrath Trail in the future!

[@tombradshaw2000]

2nd that

[@samtilly7165]

100% agree - even if he'd have to do it as a 3 part series it would be brilliant to see

[@keirenoutdoors]

@@samtilly7165 12-16 days into one video would be a fast pace! Haze Outdoors’ series of the CWT worked well!

[@samtilly7165]

@keirenoutdoors haven't seen that one will give it a look. I watched fit for adventure's series which was 6-7 videos and about 4-5hrs of viewing

[@keirenoutdoors]

@@samtilly7165 I’ve watched her first two videos! Walk with Wallace also has a full series!

[@eisvogel8099]

Again a great achievement, Liam and still you go:"Not too shabby.." Well done on your own. I hope your knees did well afterwards. I enjoy your down to earth videos very much, your folks have every reason to be proud on you! Greetings from the Netherlands, Jan

[@geoffminter2927]

Top effort Liam! I did the horseshoe route a few months ago which is 10 miles and takes in 3 peaks of corn du, pen y fan and cribben. Starts and finishes a mile or so beyond that turn around point. I did that in 6 hours

[@helenlayley]

We used to watch the squaddies running past us (several tomes) when walking up there with Scouts!

[@amylorna]

Well Done Liam, It's brutal but worth the challenge 💪

[@colin.d]

Great challenge, that 20kg back pack must have made it so much more difficult.

[@A14b19]

A mate in the 80s told me they stacked up on mars bars when finished in town fish n chips and three pints of Guinness…. That was the 1980s

[@carldowd406]

Very true mate and advised by the Sqn TRG Sgt Maj. "Guys the rations here are shit, advise you pop down the town at the end of each day for two bags of chips and a Guinness or two" summer of 83.

[@juliejackson6638]

Well done Liam! Great effort! 🎉

[@kevinkelly9895]

The Gatewat to "Pain and Suffering" is actually "Working Retail"... LOL

[@gregarywilliams5674]

Well done Liam .. Good time as well … I did it years ago … I remember the pain , thanks for the video, brought it all back…. Take care and long life…. 👍

[@susanlambert8164]

Congratulations Liam, you are never one to turn away from a challenge,well done.

[@lizette-francinefenton1083]

Fantastic, well done 👍👍thought at one bit you were becoming a fell runner 😳with that heavy back on your back - endurance Liam you got it 👍👍🫡

[@PepAndJoe]

We are undertaking Pen-Y-Fan in January, never done anything in the Brecons previously, looking forward to it. Hoping to take part in the Fan Dance at some point!

[@Fishy1764]

Well done Liam that was pretty impressive and i know our SF lads do an amazing job and the training they do is really hard but i think you did really well.All the best mate😎👍

[@na.a8646]

you should do more of these challenges they are such a good watch icl

[@jimmymorrison8314]

Good man, that's a rough yomp at the best of times. Fair play to you Liam.

[@ASBO_LUTELY]

This must have been filmed some time ago, it's been hammering down the last few weeks.

[@AMG63]

Just sat down with a cuppa and i get a notification from this KZbin legend 🤜🏼🤛🏼

[@joanweightman2275]

You look too healthy for a man full of Yorkie who's just tortured himself!! Love ya Liam, you happy crazy man...where were the flowers??? UK Granny sending her love vibes!

[@felicityrichards]

Ah loved seeing this! I walked Pen Y Fan (not the Fan Dance 😅) a few weeks ago after a break up - my first mountain! I thought I'm going to be sad either way so might as well be sad up a mountain and challenge myself, rather than sad at my desk sat on my ass! You're not wrong about the wind - as soon as I reached the ridge it was howling and nearly pushed me over! Well done, you smashed this one.

[@felicityrichards]

Also, growling "Who does this for fun, Liam, arrrrgh you idiot!" is the most relatable hiking content ever 😂

[@Jlo-i5j]

Can’t believe someone would wanna break up with you felicity 😘

[@Theonewhosyonder]

Well I know what my next walking challenge is going to be! great video!

[@edda682]

No thanks,.

[@Theonewhosyonder]

@@edda682 ahaha come on it will be fun 😂

[@tomtrevatt3286]

A few years ago I walked up Pen-Y-Fan and pretty much ran all the way down. Which killed my legs for a whole week, stopping me from attemptng Snowdon. Good video!

[@chrisedwards4403]

Well done, Liam - great effort. ✊🏻👍🏻

[@archstanton6310]

A brew with 2 sugars gets you through it 🤣

[@brianstanton6663]

Impressive performance Liam, well done.

[@patrickevans8940]

Well done Liam , you certainly smashed it

[@goundreykruse]

Amazing Liam. Loved that.

[@Ben22904]

Fair play mate that's brutal, I've climbed Pen Y Fan a good few times but the Fan Dance is beyond me lol well done.

[@jocky2]

only a small percentage of people could do this, so imagine how few could qualify for the SAS, on the full program of challenges.

[@paulacnote]

Finally, Liam got sponsored content! Well done you 😊

[@jamesclarke8918]

Well done. A great time too.

[@salomey2376]

Beautiful place, well done Liam, and thanks for taking us along, loved it

[@xyg6543]

Well done man, I think I would've struggled to complete that in a day!

[@ny2phillyholloway592]

Woo-hoo!! Knew you could do it Liam!!⏱🥇

[@DavidH-t9u]

Amazing, well done! Great video as well

[@sifromearth]

Respectful time Liam and a great video. Always a little further ;-)

[@samfreeman5793]

Good effort mate. Nice to see you in the uk. Keep up the good work 💪

[@yodachef]

thats my next half hour sorted then !

[@MalKyle1]

Excellent effort, well done Liam

[@andrewharris1837]

Spectacular views.serious incline.good job lad😊

[@kevingelder8456]

Impressed mate, well done!

[@TheOnlyAzrr]

I done it in July in the AAE event. Woke up that morning with a cold, it was pissing down and miserable. Managed it in 3hrs 55. Absolutely brutal course, I think it’s completely a mental course though, providing your cardio is up to it. Jacob’s ladder will kill you, the trick to it is head down and do not stop, unless your heart rate is 195+. I think the initial climb up Pen y fan is worse than jacobs ladder in all honesty. I’m definitely doing it again next summer, going to try and do the saturday event and the sunday. Want to challenge myself to do it twice in the weekend

[@tomhooper89]

Well done Liam! I think I would've struggled to complete that in a day! 😜😜

[@Samjie]

Incredible going Liam!

[@TheThorntonBrapper]

The Cascadia 16's are easily my favourite Trail Runners. Great choice!

[@Danisandiego]

Well done, Liam! Beast mode!!

[@dontalkt2meboutheroes]

Well done Liam

[@deborahharding135]

Congratulations Liam! Ouch indeed.

[@carriehikes]

Well done, 4 hours over that terrain and carrying all that weight is good going! 😀

[@paulrossiter9567]

Well done mate 🦾 very positive mind set is what that takes. I must give it a bash one day …👍🏻

[@seandavies9457]

Done it hungover after a dirty night out in Merthyr, got back to sennybridge camp at 6am and was heartbroken when we got told we were doing the fan with the students on the cadre

[@AlanBrown.]

Congratulations Liam. You really are some tough Cookie!

[@whathappenedto9374]

I like how its a bright sunny day and the rain cover is already mounted. Welcome to the great britain ;-)

[@Davidsdigitalmemories]

That looked like fun. Well done.

[@StansOutdoorAdventures]

Respect. Better weather than when I was last their..

[@iNDI_VAN_A_JONES]

Smashing it!! Get innnn

[@mattyj624]

Fair play to ya mate that was a superb effort 👌

[@ellleigh1216]

I never miss a video, keep them coming Liam

[@gn5101-sjb]

Well done Liam! Love your energy 👌🏻

[@Mapdeicer]

Cracking effort Liam 👏👏👏

[@Roblovesbushcraft]

Well done Liam, great effort, 👌

[@st1ffee]

there is a great camp spot in the top left of the old neddau reservoir worth checking out

[@nickcrook333]

Well done liam great achievement 👍 deserve a beer after that 😁

[@squarepegfb]

Well done mate, that looked tough!

[@peterfletcher8743]

Well done In tired just watching you from my sick bed knee up a few dAys ago!

[@curtisbradbury8399]

Dislocated my shoulder on the 2007 course twice on the tab. They popped it back in for me. Hurt like hell

[@Mike-u5o5k]

I love the sheep up in the hills there beautiful

[@markliam9446]

Well done Liam. 👏👏👏

[@campervan_Kev]

Not too shabby!

[@JesstheDJ999]

You are an amazing young man! God Bless you brother 👍🏻

[@michaelvandromme]

Well done Liam! 😊

[@geozvision_hiking4views]

The sound of gravel under foot reminds me of the film , Gerry Well done 👍

[@tashx1656]

Great effort Liam well done!

[@TheSoloSummiteer]

Respect, Liam 👊

[@nickcrook333]

What's your plans next liam? Love watching your videos 👍

[@Iron-Outdoor]

LIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM! Great to see another video of you! Thanks for sharing your adventures!

[@robinsavard84]

Well done Liam!

[@roboliver9980]

I could do that. The major issue would be the continuing to do similar things for six weeks. Unfortunately my body wouldn’t recover enough to cope with that. These guys must live with incredible pain and have staggering endurance

[@Sleepfastsounds]

if our liam says its tough believe me its tough ....liam is a beast at these i know how fit liam is having tied the dingle way in ireland........never seen liam break a sweat til now lol....keep it up liam

[@na-dk9vm]

What is the dingle way?? A cycle or Run??

[@Sleepfastsounds]

A hike in Ireland