Wisconsin Hoofers
Encyclopedia
The Wisconsin Hoofers of the Wisconsin Union is a group of outdoor recreational clubs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, operated by the Wisconsin Union
Directorate.
The Wisconsin Hoofers was begun in 1920 by a group of Norwegian exchange students who built a ski jump on the UW-Madison campus by Lake Mendota
. The club was originally called the Badger Ski Club. Porter Butts, the first director of the Memorial Union (Wisconsin)
, was instrumental in establishing the Wisconsin Hoofers. The first Hoofers club, a skiing and outing club, was established in 1931, modeled after the Dartmouth Outing Club
. The name "hoofers" is similar to the term "heelers" used for the new members of the Dartmouth club and reportedly was designed to imply "getting there under your own power." In 1976 Hoofers listed over 5,600 members.
The emblem of the club in its current form is the capital "W" overlaid by the horseshoe
(which looks like "U", thus alluding to the "U of W").
The Sailing club has been a part of the Hoofer outdoor adventure clubs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 1939. In that time it has grown from a handful of boats and members taking care of them, to the second largest inland sailing club in the country.
The sailing club originated as an all-volunteer club whose members maintained boats and taught each other how to sail
on wooden dinghies. Fifteen types of craft are sailed today, including the Hoofer-redesigned Tech Dinghy, originally an M.I.T. plan. The club's largest boats are Decoy, a Shock New York 36 acquired in Fall, 2008 and Soma, a Mull 34
racing yacht painted like a cow. The smallest Hoofer craft are the sailboards.
The club operates at Memorial Union
, on the shores of Lake Mendota
with more than 120 different boats and sailboards. The club has had upwards of 1,500 members in the past. Members have free access to available boats they are certified to sail. Instruction to obtain certification is also included in the membership dues and is provided by paid and volunteer staff. The University of Wisconsin undergraduate sailing
team (nickname Wisco) is a part of the Hoofer Sailing Club.
In 2010 the Sailing Club became an American Sailing Association
certified school.
The Club also includes an Alpine Racing Team, Nordic Team,and Freestyle Team. Several annual campus events are organized by the club such as the Rail Jam freestyle competition at Union South and ski and snowboard movie premieres. Since 1963 the club has hosted a ski and snowboard resale every December, which has grown to be the largest in the Midwest. At the resale the local community can buy and sell new or used ski and snowboard equipment. Hoofer Ski and Snowboard Club also offers lessons to those who would like to learn to ski or ride or would like to improve their skills.
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, operated by the Wisconsin Union
Wisconsin Union
The Wisconsin Union is a membership organization at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. It operates the Memorial Union, Union South, the Morgridge Center for Public Service, the Hoofer Equestrian Center, Bernie's Place Child Care Center, and a number of food outlets on campus in order to "to...
Directorate.
The Wisconsin Hoofers was begun in 1920 by a group of Norwegian exchange students who built a ski jump on the UW-Madison campus by Lake Mendota
Lake Mendota
Lake Mendota is the northernmost and largest of the four lakes near Madison, Wisconsin. The lake borders Madison on the north, east and south, Middleton on the west, Shorewood Hills on the southwest, Maple Bluff on the northeast, and Westport on the northwest....
. The club was originally called the Badger Ski Club. Porter Butts, the first director of the Memorial Union (Wisconsin)
Memorial Union (Wisconsin)
The Memorial Union, known locally as simply "the Union", is located on the shore of Lake Mendota on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. Between the building and the lake is the Terrace, a highly-popular outdoor space....
, was instrumental in establishing the Wisconsin Hoofers. The first Hoofers club, a skiing and outing club, was established in 1931, modeled after the Dartmouth Outing Club
Dartmouth Outing Club
The Dartmouth Outing Club is the oldest and largest collegiate outing club in the United States. Proposed in 1909 by Dartmouth College student Fred Harris to "stimulate interest in out-of-door winter sports", the club soon grew to encompass the College's year-round outdoor recreation and has had...
. The name "hoofers" is similar to the term "heelers" used for the new members of the Dartmouth club and reportedly was designed to imply "getting there under your own power." In 1976 Hoofers listed over 5,600 members.
The emblem of the club in its current form is the capital "W" overlaid by the horseshoe
Horseshoe
A horseshoe, is a fabricated product, normally made of metal, although sometimes made partially or wholly of modern synthetic materials, designed to protect a horse's hoof from wear and tear. Shoes are attached on the palmar surface of the hooves, usually nailed through the insensitive hoof wall...
(which looks like "U", thus alluding to the "U of W").
Hoofer Sailing Club
The sailing club originated as an all-volunteer club whose members maintained boats and taught each other how to sail
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
on wooden dinghies. Fifteen types of craft are sailed today, including the Hoofer-redesigned Tech Dinghy, originally an M.I.T. plan. The club's largest boats are Decoy, a Shock New York 36 acquired in Fall, 2008 and Soma, a Mull 34
Mull 34
The Mull 34 is a sailing yacht designed by Gary Mull under the International Offshore Rule. The design, although similar in many ways to Mull's Ranger 22 design, is striking for its wide beam, carried well aft, and the quintessential IOR transom....
racing yacht painted like a cow. The smallest Hoofer craft are the sailboards.
The club operates at Memorial Union
Memorial Union (Wisconsin)
The Memorial Union, known locally as simply "the Union", is located on the shore of Lake Mendota on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. Between the building and the lake is the Terrace, a highly-popular outdoor space....
, on the shores of Lake Mendota
Lake Mendota
Lake Mendota is the northernmost and largest of the four lakes near Madison, Wisconsin. The lake borders Madison on the north, east and south, Middleton on the west, Shorewood Hills on the southwest, Maple Bluff on the northeast, and Westport on the northwest....
with more than 120 different boats and sailboards. The club has had upwards of 1,500 members in the past. Members have free access to available boats they are certified to sail. Instruction to obtain certification is also included in the membership dues and is provided by paid and volunteer staff. The University of Wisconsin undergraduate sailing
Intercollegiate Sailing Association
The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association is a volunteer organization that serves as the governing authority for all sailing competition at colleges and universities throughout the United States and in some parts of Canada.-History:...
team (nickname Wisco) is a part of the Hoofer Sailing Club.
In 2010 the Sailing Club became an American Sailing Association
American Sailing Association
The American Sailing Association promotes recreational sailing in the United States of America by administering a system of sailing qualifications. The ASA is an association of sailors, professional sailing instructors, sailing schools and charter companies...
certified school.
Hoofer Ski and Snowboard Club
Originally started as the Badger Ski Club with three pairs of skis in 1931, the Ski and Snowboard club has grown to one of the largest clubs of its kind. The club plans a variety of ski and snowboard trips for University of Wisconsin students and union members, ranging from out west, Midwest, and local trips. It had been long standing tradition that the club organize a 200+ person trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming during the university's spring break.The Club also includes an Alpine Racing Team, Nordic Team,and Freestyle Team. Several annual campus events are organized by the club such as the Rail Jam freestyle competition at Union South and ski and snowboard movie premieres. Since 1963 the club has hosted a ski and snowboard resale every December, which has grown to be the largest in the Midwest. At the resale the local community can buy and sell new or used ski and snowboard equipment. Hoofer Ski and Snowboard Club also offers lessons to those who would like to learn to ski or ride or would like to improve their skills.
Other clubs
Currently there are the following specialized clubs:- Hoofer Riding Club (including Hoofer Equestrian Center) (since 1939)
- Hoofer Outing Club (since 1945)
- Hoofer Mountaineering Club (since 1949)
- Hoofer SCUBA Club (since 1976)
- Hoofer Ski and Snowboard Club (Hoofers SnS)
Former clubs
Past clubs:- Badger Ski Club (1920, the first club, renamed Hoofer Skiing and Outing Club in 1931)
- Hoofer Skiing and Outing Club (1931, eventually becoming the Hoofer Ski and Snowboard Club)
- Hoofer Archery Club (1934, suffered from lack of permanent shooting range and in 1965 was made into Hunting Club, which was about shooting prey rather than targets; survived until 1967, folding into Hoofer Outing)
- Hoofer Canoe Club (1952–1957, folded into Hoofer Outing)
- Ecology Club (1970s, short-lived)
- Hoofer Environment Club (1980s, short-lived)
- Hoofer Gliding Club
Notable members
- Brothers Paul Bietila and Walter Bietila, selected for the 1940 US Olympic ski jumpingSki jumpingSki jumping is a sport in which skiers go down a take-off ramp, jump and attempt to land as far as possible down the hill below. In addition to the length of the jump, judges give points for style. The skis used for ski jumping are wide and long...
team. The Games were cancelled due to World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Walter became captain of the 1948 team, and later served on the US National Olympic Committee. Famous Hoofer Sailing Club members include Peter Barrett, an Olympic sailing goldSailing at the 1968 Summer OlympicsSailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad (1896 Olympics in Athens Greece. With the exception of 1904...
(1968) and silverSailing at the 1964 Summer OlympicsSailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad (1896 Olympics in Athens Greece. With the exception of 1904...
(1964) winner, and Peter and Olaf Harken, founders of Harken, Inc.Harken, Inc.Harken Yacht Equipment is an international performance sailing hardware manufacturer headquartered in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The company was founded in a 60-foot trailer in 1967 by brothers Peter Harken and Olaf Harken. Originally, the brothers manufactured sailboats under the name Vanguard and...
, a sailing-hardware manufacturer.