'Mass of wonderful weirdos': Boulder's Tube to Work Day returns for 15th year

Jul. 14—In his annual pre-tubing pep talk, Tube to Work Day co-founder Jeff Kagan said that "inflation in Boulder is at an all-time high." Kagan was also quick to acknowledge he made the same joke in 2018.

"It's just too apropos," Kagan said.

It's a testament to the staying power of Tube to Work Day that even the loquacious Kagan is slowly, but surely, running out of tube puns.

Boulder's traditional tribute to non-traditional modes of transportation celebrated its 15th year Friday as hundreds of tubers once again took to Boulder Creek to "float in the absence of fossil fuels."

"We will fill the various foyers of offices around Boulder with moist business attire," said Kagan as he once again addressed the "mass of wonderful weirdos" gathered before him.

The event has become such a part of Boulder's culture that newcomer Hari Duddela didn't first hear about it on social media or through word of mouth.

"I saw it in a museum display," Duddela said. "And I got really intrigued. I said, 'We need to do this.' Only in Boulder."

In its second year back since the pandemic, tubers gathered at Eben G. Fine early Friday morning.

"The stoke is high," said Gabe Alarcon as he waited in line with his T-rex tube. Despite being minutes away from its maiden voyage, Alarcon admitted the dinosaur did not have a name yet.

"I think inspiration on the river will find me," Alarcon said.

Others found inspiration well before Friday. Carrie Doyle won the "best dressed" award for her orange squid ensemble.

"I found the hat, and then the rest just came together," Doyle said while referencing her squid tube and orange outfit.

It was a great return on investment, as her victory nabbed Doyle a $2,000 inflatable dock. Even if she isn't sure yet where she is going to use it yet.

"I've never had a dock before," she said. "I'm looking forward to dock ownership."

This was the third time Doyle has tubed to work, and she said the fact that it is a "true community event" keeps her coming back. Even if that community closely enforced the "work" portion of Tube to Work.

"I wasn't going to go. But all my friends, they said I had to," Doyle said.

Others had less strenuous plans.

"I'm retired," said Charles Coffey as he lounged in his tube.

In addition to the veterans, this year brought in a new batch of creek newcomers.

Erin Bennett was in her second year but brought along her mother Joan and sister Megan for their first time.

"They happened to be visiting, and this is the most Boulder thing they could do," Bennett said. "This is just a wild and crazy place."

Megan Bennett noted that it seemed to suit her sister just fine.

"This seemed pretty on par with something she'd make us do," she said.

For first-timers expecting a lazy river, the experience came as a bit of a shock.

"It was a lot more intense than I thought it would be," said Nick Early.

Fellow rookie Courtney Suen said she would do it again, but now knew what to expect and how to be better prepared. For instance, Suen is pretty certain next year she won't bring her possessions on the river in a plastic bag. But to her credit, she managed to keep it with her.

"I fought super hard for it," Suen said. "It was filling up with water and dragging me."

"I'm surprised it didn't rip," Early said.

Added Suen, "Thank you, Target."

Rachel Pellegrino and Andrew Burford with Odyssey Space Research went all in for their first time, as they not only floated down to the post-tubing party at Broadway and Canyon Boulevard but had their sights set on making it all the way down the creek to their workplace on 55th Street.

At least Pellegrino won't need much coffee once she is there.

"I got dunked immediately. That woke me up," Pellegrino said.

Burford took things a step further and truly embraced the multi-modal spirit of Tube to Work Day. In the days leading up to Friday, Burford commuted to work each day in a different way. He biked, unicycled, roller-bladed and used something called a RipStik, a two-wheeled skateboard like device.

But all of that was just leading up to the grand finale, a soggy but celebrated commute unlike any other in the world.

"I can't believe they let us do this," Burford said. "It's awesome."