On Wednesday, June 15, Whistler Secondary School Grade 9 students put their engineering skills to the test at the Great Cardboard Boat Race.
Two classes of Grade 9 students worked in teams to build boats out of cardboard and duct tape that would float down the River of Golden Dreams.
In groups of two and three, students paddled down in their little homemade boats for about 100 metres. In the first round, most of the boats would survive the 100-metre trip down the river, yet as successive journeys and portages back to the starting line were made, the boats would begin to test their engineering strengths.
The second round was a bit more difficult as the cardboard boats began to get waterlogged, and by the third round, almost all the boats were done for.
Pete Train, the department head of physical education at Whistler Secondary School, and one of the teachers that organized the event, was impressed with how many boats survived the trek down the lazy river.
“This year we gave the students more time to design the boats and dress them up a bit more,” Train said, adding that he was impressed with how many boats survived.
“Maybe we should make it a bit more difficult by limiting the amount of duct tape they use next time,” he said with a laugh.
"In all, there were two classes doing it as a project. That's about 55 to 60 kids, and other classes came over to watch. So that must have been about 100 students altogether participating in the event."
One Grade 9 student, Grayson, said he and his classmates Elliot and Shane built their boat together in two weeks. Their boat featured pool noodles, a pointed bow and a mixture of yellow, red, blue and grey duct tape in a contraption that would bring a smile to Red Green himself.
Their boat was reasonably successful in the race, so what is the trick?
“Just by having a stable boat. Not too wide and not too skinny whereas ours has a good balance,” said Grayson.
“I think it went really well. Especially because there weren't really high expectations for it, but in the end, it works, so we're really happy that it worked.”
The event also served as a fundraiser for Whistler Animals Galore, and "did very well," said Train, who also wanted to send a thank you to Backroads Whistler for providing safety gear and personnel.
