Designing a rig for the Icelandic Challenge to cross the Vatnajokull glacier has gone from a drawing in Autumn 2010 to a functioning prototype that we can modify to test different setting that will be suitable for the crossing. As with any prototype sometime we go in the right direction and sometimes we don't. But that's part of the process and even when you go slightly in the wrong direction it helps with the overall design. It can also be a little scary when you ride the rig and it doesn't behave as you expect.

The Icelandic Challenge team have gone through lots of setting to make sure we can move it unaided, fit into it with our kite harnesses and make sure we are in control of it all the time. The disabled team members have over 10 years experience of skiing on our normal sit skis and moving our body to change direction, this has paid off and helped us get to where we are now. But there is still lots of ideas coming in and it's a great process to be involved in, truly a team effort.

Ben Hooper testing the prototype rig

Some Icelandic Challenge team members happy after a good days work

We have to thank SNO!Zone in Milton Keynes for allowing us to use their slope and trust us to ride a prototype safely. They have a great facility and worth checking out the link below to find out more about them.