Ryerson team triumphs at 2019 Concrete Toboggan Race

When you think “speed,” you probably don’t think “concrete.” But maybe you should.

With its entry clocking an impressive 41 to 42 km/h, the Ryerson Engineering Concrete Toboggan Team won first place overall at the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race. Held in Edmonton, Alta., from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5, the team took home five awards in total, including Most Improved. “The students dedicated themselves to turning last year’s flaws into learning opportunities, and it paid off,” said faculty advisor Medhat Shehata.

Improvements to 2018’s design included a decreased rear-ski length, a simplification of the front steering components and a revamped braking deployment system. “The changes were primarily implemented to both curb weight and increase efficiency,” said Domenic Valle, the team’s technical officer. “The result was a toboggan that could resist high force and function in an extremely cold environment.”

Team captain Jose Laredo is proud of the team’s commitment and strong work ethic, and he invites new students to participate next year. “The competition is guaranteed to be a highlight of your educational career,” he says. “It certainly was for me.”

Faculty Advisor: Dr. Medhat Shehata
Technical Officer: Mr. Domenic Valle