This weekend, UBC Okanagan㽶Ƶֱs School of Engineering is hosting the Great Nothern Concrete Toboggan race at Big White, which is a multi-day event made to showcase the craftsmanship of hand-made concrete sleds.
The race, first established in 1975, will showcase engineering teams㽶Ƶֱ creation of a custom-built toboggan that is capable of steering, braking and safely carrying five people down the mountain. The toboggan, equipped with concrete skis and a metal roll cage, must weigh in at less than 350 pounds.
According to event co-chair Kyle Lessoway, the competition is unique in that it 㽶Ƶֱadds a spirited side to the event with themes designed into the toboggans.㽶Ƶֱ This year㽶Ƶֱs theme is cows.
For months, students have been preparing for the event by preparing budgets, writing funding proposals and engaging with stakeholders.
㽶ƵֱThe event also allows competitors to also practice their soft skills such as communicating with industry partners and members of the public who are not engineering experts,㽶Ƶֱ added Lessoway.
Race day is Saturday, Jan. 28 at Big White㽶Ƶֱs Tube Town, while Friday will see a concrete testing demonstration at the university㽶Ƶֱs campus and a Tech-Ex display at Delta Hotels by Marriot Grand Okanagan Resort.
Teams will be judged on a number of categories, including design, ingenuity, innovation and performance. All sleds must also pass a safety inspection.
The UBC Okanagan team has had previous success in the race, finishing second in 2015, which was the last time it was hosted in Kelowna.
More information about the event can be found at .
READ MORE: 㽶ƵֱIt was a super cool experience㽶Ƶֱ: Wolfpack spotted hanging out in Kelowna
bowen.assman@vernonmorningstar.com
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