They said it couldn’t be done — and, well... they’re right. But regardless, teams from across North America will travel to Manitoba to try it anyway at the 33rd annual Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR).

Supported by national engineering firms, concrete companies and a host of other major institutions including Manitoba Hydro and the University of Manitoba, the race challenges engineering students to produce the fastest, sleekest and most innovative sled whose running surface is made of cement.

Points are awarded for having good brakes, too.

The five day event which features a technical exhibition symposium, recreational activities, and the much anticipated Race Day, starts Saturday, at Springhill just north of Winnipeg.

Approximately 500 students represent their educational institutions each year to compete for the world’s greatest concrete toboggan.

Each team consists of a group of students who design, construct, and race a toboggan with a running surface made entirely out of Portland cement based concrete. Teams are also responsible for implementing a braking system of their own design to bring their speeding sleds to a safe stop after they cross the finish line.