F.A.Q.
You've got questions, we've got answers.
What is GNCTR?
GNCTR stands for the Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race which is an annual event that brings together hundreds of engineering students from across North America. It challenges each group of students to design, construct, and race their very own concrete toboggan.
Initially created in 1974 by Dr. S. H. Simmonds, president of the Alberta chapter of the American Concrete Institute, its has since become North America's largest and longest running engineering competition.
What makes it a concrete toboggan?
The toboggan is a mix of civil and mechanical engineering principles. The superstructure, steering, and braking systems are all mechanical features. However, the golden rule of the competition is that any surface touching the snow must be made of concrete. Which is why each toboggan features an engineered pair of concrete skis!
How can I register?
Use the link on our home page for pre-registration!
Will I need to speak French to join the competition?
Nope! Montréal is a very bilingual city, and we're hoping to make it an equally bilingual competition.
What safety measures are put in place for race day?
We understand that racing concrete toboggans comes with risks. Which is why we put in place numerous safety elements on race day such as snow barriers, hay bales and/or rubber mats for emergency braking, and plastic barriers to seperate the race from the public. We also have safety requirements which every team must follow in order to compete. These are further outlined in the Competition Rulebook.
Why are the OC wearing yellow labcoats in their photos?
The yellow lab coat is the official garment of the Concordia Concrete Toboggan Team (CCTT). As alumni of the team, we wanted to showcase our team pride. If you'd like to learn more about the CCTT, feel free to visit: https://concotbog.ca/
I have more questions!
No worries! Feel free to reach out to us at anytime at info@gnctr2025.ca.