Clash of the Concrete Titans – Finalists Announced for 2009 National Concrete Canoe Competition at UA

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — In a test of think or swim, this group of civil engineering students will use “concrete” determination to keep their dreams afloat.

And, while most people would never dream of making a canoe out of concrete, let alone racing it, these extraordinary students are up for the challenge.

As they chase the “America’s Cup of Civil Engineering,” hundreds of civil engineering students will trek to The University of Alabama June 11-13 for the American Society of Civil Engineers’ National Concrete Canoe Competition.

The 2009 National Concrete Canoe Competition finalists are:

• California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
• California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
• Clemson University
• École de technologie supérieure
• Fairmont State University
• New Mexico State University
• Ohio Northern University
• Polytechnic Institute of NYU
• Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
• Université Laval
• University of Alabama in Huntsville
• University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Evansville
• University of Florida
• University of Memphis
• University of Nevada, Reno
• University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
• University of Texas at Tyler
• University of Washington
• University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Throughout the year, teams of civil engineering students logged thousands of hours researching, designing and constructing their concrete canoes in search of the winning combination of creativity, knowledge and teamwork. After coming out on top in regional competitions throughout the spring, the best and brightest from 22 top engineering schools will match wits and skills in four categories — the aesthetics and structural integrity of their canoe; a technical design paper highlighting their planning, development, testing and construction; an academic presentation covering their canoe’s design, construction, racing ability and other innovative features; and the performance of the canoe and its paddlers in five different races — men’s and women’s slalom/endurance races and men’s, women’s and co-ed sprint races. Performance in each of the four categories accounts for 25 percent of a team’s total score.

The competition kicks off Thursday, June 11, on the Quad at The University of Alabama campus, as the teams’ canoes are weighed, measured and judged for aesthetics. The teams will also “swamp” their canoes in a tank of water to test their flotation ability.

Then, Friday, June 12, the teams will deliver and defend their academic presentations, including outlines of the design, cost and construction of their canoe, in front of a panel of professional civil engineers.

Finally, on Saturday, June 13, the students will gather for the canoe races at Lake Nicol in Tuscaloosa. The endurance races will begin at 8 a.m., the preliminary sprint races will begin at 11 a.m. and the sprint finals will begin at 2 p.m. The event will conclude with a banquet, where the winners will be announced and the competition awards distributed.

The National Concrete Canoe Competition is organized by the American Society of Civil Engineers and is funded by the generous support of the American Concrete Institute, Baker Concrete Construction, World of Concrete and Holcim U.S. Inc. This year’s event is hosted by The University of Alabama. For more information on the National Concrete Canoe Competition, including a schedule of events and downloadable high-resolution photos, visit www.concretecanoe.asce.org.

Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 146,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America’s oldest national engineering society. For more information, visit www.asce.org.

In 1837, UA became the first university in the state to offer engineering classes and was one of the first five in the nation to do so. Today, the College of Engineering, with about 2,300 students and more than 100 faculty, is one of the three oldest continuously operating engineering programs in the country and has been fully accredited since accreditation standards were implemented in the 1930s.