In the days leading up to Slide the City in Bend, I got plenty of reminders from co-workers about the chilly forecast for Saturday.

Usually in a razzing kind of tone.

But when Saturday morning came, although the temperature was 41 degrees at 8 a.m., the sun was shining, my tube was already in the car and I had a neoprene shirt to keep me warm. I was ready.

Arriving at NW College Way, I was surprised at the number of people who had turned out. I had wondered whether the forecast would discourage people from showing up. But already at about 11:20 a.m., when the National Weather Service in Pendleton said it was 54 degrees in Bend and the slide had just opened at 11, it seemed like dozens of riders had already taken their turn. Rachel Thomas, director of events for the company, later told me there were 2,500 participants all day.

Dripping families walked around toting their slippery, small Slide-the-City tubes, heading back to their cars after finishing their runs.

At the bottom of the slide, which was width of a street lane and the length of a city block, I watched as riders crashed into one another at high speed. At this point I think my eyes widened noticeably. Tess Freeman, The Bulletin’s multimedia producer who rode the slide alongside me, saw my surprise.

“Don’t worry, there are medics here,” she said, laughing.

We walked the short trek up the hill.

Once at the top, we took our spot in a fast moving line around noon (in a balmy 55 degrees). Our “wave time” — the window of time we were expected to ride in — was from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Friendly volunteers asked if we wanted to ride together, and a guy with a hose sprayed us in a nonchalant manner until we were soaking wet. Once we got to the front of the line, we saw a Slide the City worker was letting people go every few seconds. Most of the people in front of us were innocent children, who would take a running start and leap onto the slippery slide, no questions asked.

My colleague and I weren’t as fearless.

We had a few questions we needed answered: Could we slide on our backs instead of our stomachs? Do we have to run and hop on or will the water get us moving? Which way would he recommend?

After about 16 seconds, when we both should have already started and been well on our way, the guy was ready for us to get out of his hair.

Freeman went first, Go-Pro strapped on, and I followed. After a push start from one of the workers we were cruising fast. It was a blast.

But after about 30 seconds we got stuck. Riders were gunning for us, coming down the chute on the ultra-smooth tubes they had bought from Slide the City. We quickly realized our dilemma: stand up and get the heck out of the way or be run over. Once those riders passed, we hopped back on. But a few feet down we got stuck again.

The tubes I had brought for us were made of a heartier stock, river and lake-ready, but not so good if you want to be slip-sliding around.

The rest of the trip down went that way for us, starting and stopping, although when we’d get on a fast run, it was a lot of fun. The water pumped down the slide from a fire hydrant nearby was cold, but refreshing, and at the end of the slide, I didn’t collide into fellow riders.

When it was over, we realized the ride took us seven minutes, while it probably takes most riders, who spring for the Slide the City tube, about half that time. My bring-your-own-tube ticket cost about $26.

Part of what made the slide fun was seeing the smiling faces of kids and relieved parents who were glad it was a warm day, at least in northwest Bend, where the sliding took place.

Pump-up music, from Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way,” to Young MC’s “Bust a Move” blared over speakers near the line, which by 1 p.m. wound a good way down College Way.

Checking the wristbands of those in line, Mike Armon, 61, danced and chatted with riders. Armon’s wife, Marie, saw Slide the City was seeking volunteers for the event. They decided to sign up to help.

“People have been having a ball,” he said.

Waiting in line, Anna Robbins, 40, of Bend, said Slide the City came at the perfect time: her son Braeden’s birthday.

Braeden, who turned 8 Saturday, excitedly bopped his floatie against his friends as they laughed and pushed back. Robbins said Slide the City made for the perfect birthday party. She and her husband, Scott Robbins, 40, were riding the slide with the kids .

Anna Robbins said she was glad the sun was shining, but admitted it felt chilly after stepping off the slide.

“It’s a little cold when you get out,” she said.

For the people who brought tubes from home, inflatable chocolate doughnuts, sharks and even slices of pizza were abundant. But one woman took the cake Saturday for her creativity.

Dressed in a cow costume, pink udders and all, Vicki Kipp, of Bend, rode a giant, blow-up pink flamingo she had brought to the event by strapping it to the top of her car.

“You’re my favorite today,” one of the Slide the City workers told her via megaphone.

Kipp said she decided to wear the cow suit when she still thought it was going to be chilly weather.

“I wanted to put dish soap but I thought it might be obvious if you saw bubbles,” she said.

— Reporter: 541-383-0325,

kfisicaro@bendbulletin.com

But after about 30 seconds we got stuck. Riders were gunning for us, coming down the chute on the ultra-smooth tubes they had bought from Slide the City. We quickly realized our dilemma: stand up and get the heck out of the way or be run over. Once those riders passed, we hopped back on.