Tulsans Prepare For Great Raft Race Competition

Contestants are putting the finishing touches on their rafts for Tulsa's Great Raft Race on Monday.

Some volunteers from American Airlines helped students at Riverfield Country Day School.

Ric Breig is a teacher at Riverfield who helped get the group of students and American Airlines volunteers organized for Friday's work session.

They cut out the framework for a series of paddlewheels that will help power their raft.

7/21/2017 Related Story: Mayor Encourages Participation In Tulsa's Great Raft Race

Jonathan, a student, said said they'll have oars just in case the paddlewheel rig doesn't do the job.

They are actually building two rafts: one for the middle school and one for the upper school.

The students used all their STEM skills to come up with the design, and a team of about 15 volunteers from American are helping make it happen.

The primary flotation devices are big blue barrels.

They have to be sealed so they don't fill up with water, then latched to the wood frame.

The design calls for the paddlewheels powered by a bicycle.

Doug Barnett from American helped get the bike stabilized so it can eventually power the raft.

"When the raft race is over it'll be a bicycle again," he said.

For more information, visit the Great Raft Race's website.