Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race

The Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR) is an annual event that challenges the creativity of engineering students. The competition originated in 1974 and was created by Dr. S. H. Simmonds, president of the Alberta chapter of the American Concrete Institute.GNCTR Calgary Accessed May 8, 2012 The first race was held in 1975 with participants from the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology.GNCTR '99 Accessed May 8, 2012 Since its beginning, GNCTR has grown to include universities and technical schools from across Canada with occasional entries from the United States and Europe.

Rules The project involves designing and constructing a toboggan with a metal frame and a running surface made completely out of concrete and racing it down a steep snow-covered hill. The sled must weigh less than 350 pounds (158.8 kg), have a working braking system, and be fitted with a roll cage to protect its five passengers. Each competing team must complete a technical report summarizing the design, which is presented at a public technical exhibition.

Spirit It is traditional for teams to choose a theme for their sled; they often wear appropriate costumes and incorporate elements of the design into their technical exhibit and sled aesthetics. Themes have become a major part of the competition, making up a large part of the spirit award, as well as the best uniforms award. Theme ideas are most often drawn from popular culture, retro references, or are based on the team's home university/college and its location.

Awards Teams are judged for top speed, best run, most improved, braking, steering, and aesthetics. Each year, an award is also given for the best overall entry.

The current record holder for top speed in a successfully completed run at GNCTR is the University of Toronto, who set a speed of 73 km/h on Feb 1, 2020.

The Race Champion is qualified as the team who wins the King of the Hill competition on race day.

Year Overall Champion Race Champion Spirit Award 2026 University of Alberta University of British Columbia Okanagan Concordia University 2025 University of Toronto Western University University of Calgary 2024 University of British Columbia Okanagan University of Toronto McMaster University 2023 Western University University of Toronto McMaster University2022Not AwardedNot AwardedUniversity of Calgary2021Not AwardedNo Overall Champion awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Not AwardedNo Race Champion awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Ryerson University 2020 University of Toronto University of Toronto Concordia University 2019 Ryerson University Ryerson University University of Calgary 2018 Southern Alberta Institute of Technology Lawrence Technological University University of British Columbia Okanagan 2017 Queen's University Southern Alberta Institute of Technology University of Calgary 2016 Western University Lawrence Technological University University of Calgary 2015 University of Calgary University of Calgary University of Calgary 2014 University of Alberta University of British Columbia Okanagan University of Toronto 2013 Western University University of Toronto McMaster University 2012 Ryerson University Ryerson University Queen's University 2011 University of Calgary University of Saskatchewan McMaster University 2010 University of Alberta University of Calgary Queen's University 2009 University of Manitoba 2008 University of Waterloo 2007 Université de Sherbrooke University of Alberta 2006 Royal Military College of Canada University of Western Ontario 2005 Carleton University McMaster University 2004 University of Calgary McMaster University 2003 University of Manitoba McMaster University 2002 University of Waterloo Carleton University 2001 University of British Columbia McMaster University 2000 University of Calgary University of Manitoba 1999 University of Manitoba University of Manitoba 1998 University of Waterloo University of Manitoba 1997 University of Waterloo 1996 École Polytechnique de Montréal École Polytechnique de Montréal 1995 University of Waterloo 1994 Universität Stuttgart 1993 University of Alberta University of Manitoba 1992 Universite de Sherbrooke 1991 École de technologie supérieure 1990 École Polytechnique de Montréal 1989 University of Calgary University of Waterloo 1988 University of British Columbia 1987 University of British Columbia University of Waterloo 1986 Southern Alberta Institute of Technology University of Waterloo 1985 University of Waterloo 1984 University of Manitoba University of Waterloo 1981 University of Manitoba 1980 University of British Columbia 1979 Northern Alberta Institute of Technology 1977 University of British Columbia 1975 Southern Alberta Institute of Technology

Competition host In the early years of the competition, the winning team was asked to host the subsequent competition. By the mid-1990s, this practice had changed to an alternating scheme between Western and Eastern Canadian schools; the dividing line is the Manitoba-Ontario border. The competition usually runs from Wednesday to Sunday, at the end of January or over the first weekend in February.

Year Host School City2026Western UniversityLondon2025Concordia UniversityMontreal 2024 Memorial University of Newfoundland St. John's2023 University of British Columbia (Okanagan Campus) Kelowna2022Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, University of CalgaryVirtually2021Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, University of CalgaryVirtuallyCompetition was held virtually as travel restrictions and gathering limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic prohibited the competition from taking place in person. 2020 University of Toronto Toronto 2019 University of Alberta Edmonton 2018 University of Waterloo Waterloo 2017 University of Manitoba Winnipeg 2016 University of Ottawa Ottawa 2015 University of British Columbia (Okanagan Campus) Kelowna 2014 University of Western Ontario London 2013 University of British Columbia Vancouver 2012 University of Calgary Calgary 2011 University of Alberta Edmonton 2010 McMaster University Hamilton 2009 University of Calgary Red Deer 2008 Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke 2007 University of Manitoba Winnipeg 2006 École de technologie supérieure and Concordia University Montreal 2005 University of Calgary Calgary 2004 Carleton University Ottawa 2003 University of Alberta Edmonton 2002 University of Manitoba Winnipeg 2001 Queen's University/Royal Military College of Canada Kingston 2000 University of Regina Regina 1999 University of Waterloo Waterloo 1998 University of Calgary Calgary 1997 Carleton University Ottawa 1996 University of Manitoba Winnipeg 1995 École Polytechnique de Montréal Montreal 1994 University of Alberta Edmonton 1993 Université de Sherbrooke Sherbrooke 1992 École de technologie supérieure Montreal 1991 École Polytechnique de Montréal Montreal 1990 University of Calgary Calgary1988University of British ColumbiaVancouver1985University of ManitobaWinnipeg1984University of AlbertaEdmonton 1982 University of Manitoba Winnipeg 1981 University of British Columbia Vancouver 1980 Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Edmonton 1978 University of British Columbia Vancouver 1975 University of Calgary, University of Alberta, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology Red Deer

Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race

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