Pupping’s graduation supervisor, IDE researcher Jelle Joustra, has been working on reusing polyester components from wind turbine blades for some time. Flat sections from the front of the blade are easier to repurpose as tables or panels compared to the curved back. However, for a pump track, curvature is actually an advantage. A suitable section was cut from a discarded blade using a waterjet, seamlessly integrated, and finished with a non-slip layer.
Pump track operator Jan is pleased with the result but is curious about the cost of a track component made from polyester. The rest of the temporary track is made from wooden parts, which are about the same weight but far less weather-resistant. Jan believes that straight sections of asphalt could pair well with polyester curves and bumps in permanent pump tracks.
“It’s amazing when you can turn a waste problem into something that encourages kids to get moving,” says Pupping. He hopes to graduate with this project in about a month and a half.
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