Using a trending saxophone audio track that grows louder as danger approaches, social media users have been sharing clips of chaotic trips through the tube chute, recounting close calls on the river. But while the videos are often played for laughs, New Braunfels officials say one common mistake can create serious problems when things go wrong: tying tubes together.
Ahead of the busy summer tubing season, city leaders are urging visitors to keep their tubes separate in the popular chute. The practice, they say, can make rescues more difficult and increase the risk of people becoming trapped in the water.
“Make sure you don’t tie your tubes together as you go down the tube chute,” New Braunfels Parks and Recreation Director Ken Wilson told MySA in May ahead of Memorial Day weekend. “That creates a hazard for our lifeguards. If someone flips out and we need to perform a rescue, a large group of connected tubes can create a raft-like structure that increases the risk of people becoming trapped underneath.”
The warning comes as thousands of visitors are expected to flock to the Comal River throughout the summer, particularly on holiday weekends when crowds swell across New Braunfels.
City officials say visitors should also wear life jackets when needed, stay hydrated, monitor alcohol consumption and pay attention to changing river conditions. One of the most common reasons emergency crews respond to the river is dehydration, according to New Braunfels Fire Chief Ruy Lozano.
“Alcohol does not hydrate you. Water alone cannot hydrate you. You need to get the appropriate electrolytes, or some type of high electrolyte fluid in you on a regular basis,” Lozano previously told MySA.
Lozano also encouraged visitors who are not strong swimmers to wear life jackets, noting that free life jackets are available for river users, and New Braunfels Police Chief Osbaldo Flores said visitors should arrive with a plan and enjoy the river responsibly.
“You’ve got to respect the river,” Flores previously said. “It’s a natural environment. Stay tuned with any changing weather conditions. Come here with a plan, know where to park, and then enjoy the rivers responsibly.”
For many Central Texans, a trip down the Comal River is a summer tradition. But before launching into the tube chute, city officials have one simple request: do not tie your floating tubes together.
What may seem like a convenient way to keep a group together could become a serious obstacle when seconds matter most.