The Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR) is an annual event that challenges the creativity of engineering students. Since 1974 GNCTR has grown to include universities and technical schools from across Canada with occasional entries from the United States and Europe.
The project involves designing and constructing a toboggan with a metal frame and a running surface made completely out of concrete. The sled must weigh less than 350 pounds (158 kg), have a working braking system, working steering system and be fitted with a roll bar to protect its five passengers. Each competing team must complete a technical report summarizing the design, which is presented at a public technical exhibition.
Teams are judged on the design and performance of their toboggan in the categories of speed, steering, and braking. Aesthetics and sustainability are also factored into a toboggan’s score. Team theme and spirit are scored at the competition. The team that accumulates the most points from all of these categories is crowned champion and awarded the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering Cup.
Accolades
The Western Engineering Toboggan Team has had numerous successful competitions over the past few years, which are documented below. Your support will ensure that WETT can maintain its competitiveness and achieve its goal of ranking within the top three teams overall.
2023 – Kelowna, BC
1st Overall CSCE Cup Champions
Most Improved Team
1st – Best Geometric Profile and Formwork
1st – Best Concrete Reinforcement Design
1st – Best Theoretical Toboggan
1st – Most Innovative Design
2nd – King of the Hill
2nd – Fastest Run Time (14.9 seconds)
2nd – Best Concrete Mix Design
2nd – Best Braking Design
3rd – Best Frame Design
3rd – Most Sustainable Design
3rd – Best Technical Report
3rd – Best Technical Presentation
3rd – Best Technical Display Presentation
3rd – Best Opening Performance
2020 – Toronto, ON
3rd Place Overall
1st – in Ski Design
1st – Costume Design
1st – in Technical Presentation
2019 – Edmonton, AB
2nd Place Overall – Runner-up
1st – in Concrete Mix
1st – in Technical Presentation
2nd Best Performing Toboggan
2018 – Waterloo, ON
5th Place Overall
1st – in Concrete Reinforcement
1st – in Technical Display
1st – in Technical Presentation
2nd – in Safety
2017 – Winnepeg, MB
2nd Place Overall – Runner-up
1st – in Theoretical Toboggan Design
1st – in Braking Performance
1st – Concrete Mix Design
1st – Concrete Reinforcement Design
1st – Technical Report Delivery
Most Improved Team
2016 – Ottawa, ON
1st Place Overall – CSCE Cup Champions
1st – Overall Toboggan Design
1st – in Braking Performance
2nd – in Team Spirit
Most Improved Team
2015 – Kelowna, BC
1st – Best Superstructure Design
1st – Most Original Toboggan Design
1st – Best Technical Showcase of Toboggan
2nd – Concrete Reinforcement
3rd – Concrete Mix Design
3rd – Steering Design
4th – Overall Toboggan Design
2014 – London, ON
1st – Technical Display
1st – Technical Presentation
1st – Design Justification and Presentation Total
2nd – Technical Report
2nd – Originality and Innovation
4th – Overall Team
2013–Vancouver, BC
1st Place Overall – CSCE Cup Champions
1st – Giant Slalom
Holcim Sustainable Toboggan Award
2nd – Braking Design
2nd – Technical Display
2012–Calgary, AB
1st – Technical Report
1st – Technical Exhibit
1st – Concrete Reinforcement Design
1st – Concrete Mix Design
1st – Toboggan Design
2011 – Edmonton, AB
2nd – Technical Report
2010 – Hamilton, ON
2nd – Technical Report
3rd – Braking/Superstructure Design
2009 – Red Deer, AB
3rd – Concrete Design
2008 – Sherbrooke, QC
1st – Steering Design
Most Spectacular Run Award
2006 – Montreal, QC
1st – Concrete Design
2nd – Overall
2005 – Calgary, AB
Best Rookie Team