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The Great Northern Concrete Toboggan Race (GNCTR) is taking over Boler Mountain this week. The main event (Race Day) is Saturday, February 7, 2026. It features 400+ engineering students, 350-pound concrete sleds, and speeds hitting 60km/h. And yes, it is free to watch.
The Spectacle: What is it?
If you haven’t seen this before, it sounds like a typo. It isn’t.
This is Canada’s longest-running engineering competition, started back in 1974.
Engineering teams from across Canada (and the US) spend months designing toboggans with a critical constraint: The running surface (skis) must be made of concrete. They also have to hold 5 people, weigh under 350 lbs, and actually steer (mostly).
Why this is a big deal for London
This is only the second time in history London has hosted (the last time was 2014). Western University is the host school, bringing the event home after the University of Toronto took the title in Montreal last year with a Yellow Submarine sled.
The “Insider” Logistics (How to watch like a Pro)
If you want to support the students without the headache, here is the playbook:
- When to go: Saturday, Feb 7 is Race Day. Aim for 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
- Where to stand: Skip the top of the hill. Go to the bottom “run-out” zone. You get to see the braking systems deploy (or fail) and the teams celebrating. It’s the highest energy spot.
- Parking Hack: The main lot at Boler will be a zoo. Drop passengers at the loop and park on the side streets South of the hill (check signs carefully!), or carpool.
Who Should NOT Go?
I want to be honest. This is a university engineering event. It is loud (“spirit” chanting is constant), crowded, and cold. If you prefer a quiet, heated environment, stay home and check the highlights on gnctr2026.ca.
Why this matters
We often talk about London as a “University Town.” This is what that looks like in action. Smart, talented people having fun and building community right here in our backyard.
See you on the hill.
