Suzanne's Mom's Blog

Who can resist a playful idea, especially one that comes from civil engineers, a cohort perhaps given too little credit for creativity.

Corey Kilgannon writes in the NY Times, that a beloved pastime among civil engineers is racing concrete canoes.

“It might sound like an idea that would go over like the proverbial lead balloon, but in September, a group of engineering students at City College of New York began meeting and devising a way to build a concrete canoe.

“ ‘When I heard that, my response was like: “What? A boat made of concrete?” ‘ said Dr. Friso Postma, an expert paddler from Brooklyn, who had not heard of such a thing until he was asked to coach the team this spring, once the canoe was finished.

“Team members reassured him that while they were building the canoe over the winter, in a workshop at City College, they had made certain that the vessel would float. After all, they told Mr. Postma, the primary rule in concrete canoe competitions — yes, there are such events — is paddling a boat that does not sink.

“They also told him that concrete canoeing has a rich tradition among civil engineers, and at City College, whose teams go back to at least the 1970s.

“ ‘It’s a huge thing within the civil engineering program,’ said Juan-Carlos Quintana, 29, a team member. ‘We take it very seriously.’ ”

More here.

Photo: Kirsten Luce for the New York Times
Esther Dornhelm, left, and Fidan Mamedova practice at Paerdegat Basin in Brooklyn for this weekend’s national concrete canoe championships.