We are an engineering student team from UBC that competes in the annual Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (Concrete Toboggan). It is the oldest and largest engineering student competition in Canada. The goal is to design, construct, and race a toboggan with a sliding surface made of concrete. Toboggans must be under 300 pounds and carry five riders. Toboggans must have a braking system, steering system, and roll cage. The first race was held in 1974 in Red Deer, Alberta.
The team is an opportunity for students to practice technical skills that they have learned in their classes, while improving teamwork and planning skills in a supportive atmosphere. Technical experience includes concrete design, steel design, construction safety, and lab techniques. Nontechnical experience includes teamwork, organization, communication, and scheduling. This is especially true for team members who choose to take on a lead planning or design task. This could come from planning activities, writing reports, calling meetings, coordinating with event organizers, and more.