Skip to main content
UW News
A composite of three images - a sailboat on water, people hiking under a moon, and a skier wearing a ski mask on the slopes.

Exploring the great outdoors with Wisconsin Hoofers

Story and photos by Xiaomeng Shen

(Editor’s Note: Xiaomeng Shen is a UW–Madison junior majoring in economics and data science and a photo intern for the Office of Strategic Communication.)

During my freshman year, a fortuitous encounter with a friend of a friend led me to the shore of Lake Mendota for a sailing trip. It was a perfect late-summer day in Wisconsin — blue skies, clear water, a soft breeze, and music on the Memorial Union Terrace. I hadn’t been on a sailboat since I was 8 years old, exploring the East China Sea near Shanghai.

Previously I had only seen Madison from land, so being on Lake Mendota gave me a whole new perspective. I felt great, like I was part of the community and connected to the lake. At that point, I knew I would fall in love with sailing. Then I was delighted to learn I could join the UW Hoofer Sailing Club and pursue this new hobby for the next four years.

I’m not a very talkative person, so the sailing club suits me well. My colleagues and I connect by working together on the lake rather than just sitting and talking. It’s a fun club, and I’ve made friends. The membership is diverse, with other international students and students who speak various languages. You can go running or cycling on any college campus, but with four lakes in UW–Madison’s backyard, you can sail here.

In addition to sailing, the Wisconsin Hoofers — one of the oldest and largest student organizations on campus — offers other outdoor activities to students.

Join me as I sample those activities, finding that they all enrich students’ lives — just as sailing has enriched mine.

Hoofer Sailing Lessons

Before stepping on a sailboat, students must take an Introduction to Dinghy Sailing course. Hoofers also offers advanced classes, which I took with instructor Stefanie Glas. She’s an engineering doctoral student with a passion for sailing, and her knowledge of physics and engineering brought depth to her instruction.

A person sitting at a desk with a book open in front of her.
Instructor Stefanie Glas teaches students how to prepare for sailing, what wind speeds are safe, and emergency procedures.
Four people sit around a table, smiling and talking.
Students enjoy the humorous teaching style of Glas (second from left).

On a sunny day in early October, I watched one of the advanced lessons led by Glas (seen below wearing purple). Students practiced rigging, setting up the sails, tying nautical knots, installing the rudders, and, at last, sailing.

Two people tie some ropes on a sailboat.
Glas helps her student Matthew Gately rig a Laser dinghy. Rigging involves setting up the ropes and lines to control the boat.
A woman operates a motorboat on the water.
Glas supervises Gately sailing a Laser dinghy during an advanced lesson.
Two people lift a sail on a sailboat.
Glas helps student Erika Rattunde rig a Byte dinghy.
Two people work to arrange ropes on a sailboat.
Glas and Rattunde prepare the boat. Knowing how to tie good knots is a key part of sailing.
Two people roll up a sale.
Glas helps Rattunde derig a Byte dinghy. Everything must be put away properly when the sail is complete.

Hoofer Sailing Club Races

I had the chance to be on the crew during a sailing race in September. The skipper of my boat taught me a lot about racing (like how to not capsize in strong wind!). Even if you’ve never sailed a boat, you can be on the crew of a boat under an experienced skipper. I joined race coordinator Stephanie Crowther to photograph the experience.

Two sailboats race in the water.

The race is on! On Sept. 28, the Hoofer Sailing Club organized a race for a dinghy sailboat called a 420. These 420-centimeter boats are slightly smaller than the 470-centimeter boats used in Olympic sailing races.

A group of sailboats are gathered at a starting line for a race.

A line of sailboats await the starting horn. Sailboats do tacking — a zig-zag maneuver — when going upwind and then turn around and sail downwind to the finish. The skippers seek to cover the shortest distance with the fastest speed.

A sailboat splashes through the water.

Planing over the wake waves (using hydrodynamic lift) reduces the boat’s drag significantly and results in faster speeds.

Two people cling to the hull of an overturned sailboat.

Capsize! When sailing at high speeds, sometimes things go awry. It’s up to the skipper and crew to use leverage on the daggerboard to right the ship.

Two people work to set upright an overturned boat.

Teamwork and a good understanding of physics are essential to righting a boat on a windy Lake Mendota.

Two people set a boat upright.

When the sailboat pops back up, the crew will climb back in and continue the race.

A person leans back on a boat sailing through the water. The state capitol is visible in the background.

With the Wisconsin state capitol building in the background, the skipper leans back to balance the force of the wind in order to hold the boat’s course.

Hiking with Outdoor UW

A supermoon and a clear night sky made for the perfect evening to hike down to the Lakeshore Nature Preserve’s Picnic Point in November. It was organized by the Hoofer Outing Club and Outdoor UW, the program that offers recreation experiences to students and is home to the Hoofers. It was already dark when I met up with the group, which included first-year students, alumni and other guests, all of whom were eager to experience a new side of campus. With the guidance of a couple experienced leaders and the light of the full moon, we navigated through the dark woods to the end of Picnic Point, where we shared hot cocoa and a broad view of the glowing Madison skyline. The scene was new to me. As the group made a tiny fire in the pit, we relaxed in the peaceful environment.

A group of people hike at night under a moon.
The full moon, the last supermoon of 2024, illuminates the night sky.
A man greets some other people.
Team leader and UW student Oscar Pruhs greets participants for the Full Moon Hike at the Lakeshore Nature Preserve.
People gather around a bonfire at night.
Participants sip hot cocoa while leaning in for warmth around a fire at the tip of Picnic Point.
People walk in a night-time hike past a bonfire.
The Hoofers club passes other late-night visitors taking advantage of the fire pits and starry skies.
Some people gather at night under a street light.
Shadows stretch into the darkness as students gather under a streetlight at the Picnic Point trailhead.

Hoofer Skiing and Snowboarding

On a snowy February evening, I met four other UW students and climbed into a van to drive to the Tyrol Basin ski resort just 20 minutes west of Madison.

When we arrived, we received some basic instruction in skiing and snowboarding. It can be hard to pick up a new sport, but my peers learned several skills and had a good time in the process.

For an out-of-town adventure, the Hoofer Ski and Snowboard Club makes it easy for students. The transportation is convenient, you get matched at your skill level, a coaching session is prepared for you, and it’s more affordable than going on your own.

Two people stand on snowboards at the top of a slope.
As the sun sets behind the hills, an instructor (at center) shows UW students (from left to right) Younoo Ok and Liza Soboleva how to snap into their snowboards.
People walk toward a ski chalet carrying skis and snowboards.
Members of the Hoofer Ski and Snowboard Club arrive at Tyrol Basin. With transportation included and ski and snowboard equipment available to rent, it’s a convenient activity for students.
A person skis down a slope with his skis turned inward.
It’s a different kind of Friday night pizza. First-year student Yixuan Li practices the “pizza” — a snowplow position on a beginner run.
Three people wearing winter coats and ski helmets smile at the camera.
Skiers from UW are all smiles as they wait for the “magic carpet” moving belt to take them up the slope.
People crouch on a slope with a snowboard.
At right, an instructor teaches graduate student Liza Soboleva an important skill — learning how to stand up after you’ve fallen down.
A person skis on a snow-covered slope.
Learning a new skill is a great feeling. Student Yixuan Li and his shadow glide down the snowy hill.
A person skis toward two other people.
Nothing beats the blue hour in winter. From left to right, a ski instructor reviews teachings with Yixuan Li and Rachit Dadu before the two head out to the slopes on their own.

I feel lucky to have Hoofers at UW–Madison. I appreciate having so many accessible opportunities to experience outdoor adventures. Thank you to all the Hoofers instructors, organizers and members who share their knowledge through the clubs, and to those who let me capture the moments for this story.

For the last three weekends, Hoofer Sailing Club members have been getting ready for the summer season: setting up rigging, washing the boats, and doing inspections and improvements. It’s been six months since I last sailed, and I’m excited to get back on the water again. I’m looking forward to learning how to sail a new kind of boat (a keelboat) and to build on my skills this season. Hope to see you on the lake!