On a chilly weekend in February 2026, hundreds of engineering students gathered in London, Ontario, to participate in the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race. This annual event brought together teams from approximately 20 universities across Canada, all vying to showcase their ingenuity through the design and construction of concrete sleds, which they raced down a hill.
The race took place at Boler Mountain, a location that had not hosted the competition in over a decade. Teams prepared for this thrilling experience, highlighted by the anticipation that built up over the previous ten to eleven months as students designed and built their toboggans. Owen Kirk, the captain of the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO) team, expressed his excitement and satisfaction with their performance, culminating in their victory of the coveted King of the Hill award.
"I love the competition, I love this spirit," Kirk stated, emphasizing the exhilarating moment when their toboggan successfully descended the hill after its first push. He noted the pride his team felt having invested so much effort into their project, and the joy of witnessing it come to fruition on race day.
Each competing toboggan was equipped with concrete sliding surfaces, a safety roll cage, and a mechanical steering and braking system, all while adhering to a maximum weight of approximately 160 kilograms. The race format consisted of three components: a drag race to evaluate speed, a slalom race to assess handling, and a final race featuring the winners from each bracket to determine the King of the Hill.
Abigail Young, captain of the Western University team that made it to the quarterfinals, shared her favorite aspect of the competition: the camaraderie among participants. She recounted instances where teams collaborated, even sharing tools to assist one another. The cooperative spirit was apparent when a welder from her team helped another group, ultimately contributing to their success when they achieved their own victory.
"When they won, it felt like you won, so overall everyone seemed like a winner, which was really fun," Young remarked, highlighting the wholesome environment fostered by the event. The awarding of prizes for the top performances was set to be announced later by corporate sponsors, adding to the excitement of the competition.
Kirk concluded his reflections on the event with a heartfelt acknowledgment of the significance of his team’s victory. "Winning King of the Hill for the first time at UBCO was such a joy and a great way to cap off my engineering degree," he said, evident joy lighting up his face.
The Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race continues to be an innovative and challenging platform for engineering students from across Canada, allowing them not only to test their engineering prowess but also to build lasting relationships through teamwork and mutual support.
