These concrete toboggans are ready to race

Nine months ago, engineering students from across Canada started to design arguably the most Canadian mode of transportation – a toboggan.

But these snow sliding machines are far from a typical toboggan, made clear from the concrete runners.

And this weekend, those handmade sleds will be pit against each other at Big White as The Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR) returns to the Okanagan.

Launched in 1975, the event that started with four teams in Alberta now draws over 450 students, plus the occasional international entry. It serves as an opportunity for students to develop and showcase their innovation and technical skills.

“In class we only get so much time to practice the things we are learning,” co-chair Kyle Lessoway told Kelowna10. “[At the GNCTR] you get to take those skills and apply them a lot more, and you get a much deeper understanding of the actual process.”

The circuit last passed through Kelowna in 2015, which was Lessoway’s first introduction to the community. He now helps host and grow the competitive and educational organization. On Friday, an expo showing off the machines took place at the Delta Grand Resort.

The rules are simple: each team must design and build a bespoke toboggan capable of steering, braking, and most importantly, safely carry five people down the mountain.

The completed product must have concrete skis, a roll cage, and steering and braking mechanisms that all weighs in at less than 350 pounds.

Each vehicle is judged across an array of categories, such as innovation, safety, and race day performance.

The team also picks a theme, which adds a spirited side to the event.

Of course, the pinnacle of the endeavour comes on race day, as the sleds zoom down the mountain, vying for the top time.

“It’s much like skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, it is the same feeling, except you happen to be doing it with five other people in a thing you actually made,” Lessoway said. “Which is terrifying and also an amazing feeling, because it is such a big accomplishment.”

Yearning for that feeling is Evelyn Madonia and Iyahali Deep. The competitors - whose toboggan resembled the famed Mystery Machine from Scooby-doo and is aptly named the Mystery Boggchine – described the weeklong event as a “fever dream.”

“It is a good community, and everyone is very supportive,” Madonia said. “I am hoping we stay warm (during the race), and all of our calculations are solid.”

“I hope we go fast, and I hope we win,” Deep said.

For James Monk, with team Pirates of the Caribboggan, seeing nine months of work come together was rewarding.

“We were fortunate enough to be able test it. I am not stressing. I know it works. I’m excited to race it and see how it does against the competitors,” he said. “I’ll be driving it, so it will be a good time.”