Cal Poly Is Concrete Canoe Championship Winner
After putting their academic and athletic skills to the test in a grueling three-day battle at the American Society of Civil Engineers’ 23rd annual National Concrete Canoe Competition, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo has claimed their first ever national title.
The school’s win, in their 170-pound, white canoe, the Amazona, also marks the first time that a school has hosted and won the championship simultaneously.
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo’s closest competitors were the University of Nevada-Reno and École de technologie supérieure (Montréal). The University of Nevada-Reno paddled into second place with its 230-pound, white, amber and blue canoe, the Battle Born; and École de technologie supérieure finished a close third with its 180-pound, white, black and brown canoe, the Montferrand. For their top finishes, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, the University of Nevada-Reno and École de technologie supérieure earned $5,000, $2,500 and $1,500 in scholarship money, respectively.
The competition is comprised of both academic and athletic events, and the scores are divided into four components each worth 25 percent of the team’s final score. Students write a paper detailing the design and construction of their canoe and then give an oral presentation on their year-long effort. They are also judged on their final product, the canoe, and their accompanying display, which further explains their design process. Finally, they put their canoe through the paces in a series of five race events—men’s and women’s slalom/endurance races and men’s, women’s and co-ed sprint races.
Photo by Phil Klein/American Society of Civil Engineers