Boulder’s Tube to Work Day returns after pandemic break – Greeley Tribune

After two years of remote meetings, home offices and isolation, Boulder Creek was once again the place of a personal commute like no other.

“Today’s event is a true live stream,” Jeff Kagan called out to a crowd gathered at Eben G. Fine Park to announce the return of Tube To Work Day after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic.

Co-founded by Kagan and Andy Gruel in 2008, Tube To Work Day had grown from two men to a tradition that drew more than 1,000 people to Boulder in the years leading up to the pandemic to celebrate the alternative in alternative transportation.

But like so many events, Tube To Work Day was derailed in 2020 and 2021 before returning on Friday for its belated 14th year. Even with new registration fees and a new participant cap, Kagan said about 500 people signed up.

“The excitement flows through my body like the rushing water of Boulder Creek,” Kagan said. “Just to see so many people gathering again… That’s my way of networking.”

For tuber veterans like Chrissy Gedenberg and Kelly McBride, it was a relief to see the event return, a chance to once again not pay at the pumps and get stuck in a traffic jam that had no state highways involved.

“I’m so glad it’s back,” said Gedenberg. “I’m so glad (Kagan) is keeping this alive.”

McBride added, “It’s better than Christmas morning.”

The event’s return also meant that rookies like Kay Davis got to experience the rush hour rush at Boulder Creek.

“It was so much fun, so messy, just driving around with Plinko,” Davis said. “It’s the spirit of Boulder.”

Haley Berry attended the event in 2019 and couldn’t wait to come back so she can bring her colleagues from her company, rule4. Berry and her employees all wore ears and tails to match the company’s fox mascot.

“We’re coming in great,” said Berry. “We’re so excited it’s back.”

Berry’s tube choice this year was a tall and flat boat-shaped tube that might be more suited to recreational use than rapids.

“A cooler was supposed to go in there, but that seemed like a lot,” Berry said, pointing to a storage space in front of the tube. “It’s a calculated risk. It will happen as it happens.”

As usual, the “work” of the tubers after leaving the water was different.

“I miss a lot of meetings,” Jessica McDaniel said while relaxing in her tube.

But many others have actually worked with the subway, even if in the post-pandemic landscape that meant more people were making round trips.

“I went tubing,” said Michael Green. “And then I drove home, which is work.”

But Green said he would take a break at the breakfast station and dance at the first exit point in downtown Boulder.

“The party is not insignificant,” Green said.

For some, the time spent at the party far outweighed their time in the water. Ginger Wolfe and Brett Thrash barely made it over the first rapid before capsizing in a Pegasus-shaped tube fit for the Greek gods but less fit for a Class 2 rapid.

“We had a few barrel rolls,” said Wolfe, who descended Boulder Creek for the first time. “We definitely had a crash course.”

But as Thrash said, their first time was about setting expectations.

“We wanted to last 60 seconds,” he said. “Went went 70.”

But other novices like Thad Daguilh and Nate Johnson have also adapted well to the creek.

“Thirty seconds later I felt right at home,” Daguilh said. “A lot backwards, though. I got a piece of bacon.”

Daguilh’s performance was particularly impressive as he spent most of the ride without his hands busy waving two small American flags.

“You’ve made a commitment to that,” Johnson remarked.

Daguilh said he moved to Boulder in the fall of 2019, shortly after this year’s event. He had heard of Tube To Work Day before but had to be patient to attend.

“I’ve waited two and a half years,” Daguilh said.

So was it worth it?

“Everything you could hope for,” Johnson said.