Ben's Report on the KiteSled

 Hi Peter,
 
Very exciting tests this weekend, in all senses of the word. 27-35  knots and hard ice. It went 80km/hour up wind with a G1-10, and we didn't dare power it up downwind, surely a potential top speed near 150. Nothing short of terrifying. That's the good news. The bad is that I broke my collarbone in a fall while filming off the front of the  sled. I'm out of action for a month, but otherwise no major dramas.
You've built an extraordinary machine Peter. The steering system is  revealing all sorts of interesting qualities. It presents the same  stability at all speeds, on all surfaces. Having each ski pinned at  four places means it has absolutely no reactive habits. No wobbles at  speed. Nor is it deflected by rough surfaces. It just snakes over the  top of them as long as the wavelength is shorter than the ski. Icy  snow, especially when rough is the hardest and most dangerous to ski,  but seems to make little difference on the sled. I see a superior  technology for lakes with mixed snow/ice (surely common?)  The winds in august/early september are very strong here. It's been  over thirty knots every day for the last ten, mixed with ice and rocks 
and turbulent winds means a bad accident sooner or later. I reckon it  needs a storm sail and mast for over 25 knots. It's just too dangerous  here or anywhere else for kiting in those conditions.
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Ben.