 "Photo: Erik Christiansen/Poly Post")
 "Photo: Josh Tatum/Poly Post")
The 2010 Cal Poly Universities Rose Float, “Jungle Cuts,” is inching its way closer to completion after mechanical construction was finished Saturday.
The 2009 float, “Seaside Amusement,” won the inaugural viewers’ choice award, but the 2010 design could also contend for the animation trophy judging by the numerous animation elements.
“Some of the monkeys’ arms will be moving, the hippo’s mouth will be opening and closing, the zebra will be head banging, the back tree with the giraffe will be leaning, the toucan will be flying around the tree, and there will be a few more small movements that will give life to the float,” said Kevin Hsu, a sixth-year electronics and computer engineering technology student and Rose Float Committee chair.
An engine under the front half powers the animation. Simple electric motors and hydraulic cylinders control the spinning and swaying creatures.
This year’s float also contains a working waterfall and a hippo which sprays mist toward the audience.
“As far as what we are allowed to do with water, nothing is allowed to fall off the float,” said Tom Krenek, a fourth-year mechanical engineering student and construction chair of the Rose Float Committee. “All the water has to be completely contained on the float, which is why for the waterfall we have a large reservoir at the front holding water.”
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s team is in charge of building a lion, snake, swinging monkey, two giraffes and two monkey barbers.
The float chassis is reused each year. The team tries to reuse as much as possible to save money.
“This year we are reusing the parachute drop from [the 2009 float] “Seaside Amusement” as the tall tree and the phoenix mount from [the 2008 float] “Guardians of Harmony” for the leaning tree,” Hsu said.
Krenek said they purchased a new engine this year and are in the process of assembling it.
Without a professional builder’s budget, the Cal Polys must rely on the support of campus organizations and donations from companies such as California Steel and Tube and the California Cut Flower Commission.
San Luis Obispo’s half arrives via semi trailer Oct. 24, and the two sections are then bolted together with large steel plates and large, high-grade bolts.
The float must pass three mechanical inspections from the Tournament of Roses.
It passed the first test Oct. 10. The next tests will be on Nov. 21 and Dec. 19.
“The tests are required to ensure the safety of the float operators, the safety of the audience, and the continued operation of the float during the entirety of the parade,” Hsu said.
On Dec. 20, the float will leave for the Brookside Tent in Pasadena at approximately 10 p.m. with an estimated arrival of 3 a.m.
Police cars will escort the float on its 15 mph journey by side streets.
Before the float gets to that point, many volunteers help bring the float to fruition.
“It really takes all types of students to build this float,” said Marla Franco, a senior coordinator at the Office of Student Life and overseer of the Rose Float program.
“We need students that have skills related to areas such as graphic design, web development, photography, decorating, floral design, welding, construction, scale drawing, project management, fundraising, accounting, marketing and programming planning,” she said.
She estimates 125 student volunteers have helped with the float since the winning 2010 design was announced April 3.
Rose float alumni, members of the academic and local community and students’ friends and family members also join in the process.
As the float approaches completion, San Luis Obispo students car pool to Pomona each weekend until the their winter break comes.
They then move down, often with family and friends, and stay in university housing for the period known as Design Week.
Hsu and Krenek spend up to 20 hours a week on the float.
“I do not have much free time, whether it be doing homework or just getting the chance todo nothing at all,” Krenek said. “Rose Float is definitely a lifestyle, and a hectic one at that.”
Despite the float’s time-sapping qualities, both Hsu and Krenek enjoy their jobs.
Krenek enjoys picking up new skills and then applying them.
Hsu said the “best thing about working on the Cal Poly rose float is being a part of a project known to the world.”
The unfinished float will be on display during Rose Day festivities, Dec. 3 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in University Park.
Reach Marcie Heacox at: news@thepolypost.com
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