Norwegians Started It All
How Ski Jumping Inspired Hoofers
In 1919, a group of Norwegian students shared their love of skiing with the University by constructing a wooden ski jump on Muir Knoll. The popularity of the ski jump planted the seed for what would eventually become the Wisconsin Hoofers, a set of outdoors-related clubs at the Wisconsin Union.
Twelve years later, a committee of students and faculty, including former Wisconsin Union Director Porter Butts, began the process of establishing a skiing and outing club. They posted a sign on the Union bulletin board that read, Please sign here if you're interested in participating in an outing club with skiing, camping, and canoeing as a prospect.
Their first meeting of seven people was held in the basement of the old president's house at Park and Langdon Streets. Student Henry Baker was named president. Sally Owen Marshall, the first woman on the ski jump, designed the logo: a black horseshoe superimposed on a red W. The logo signified that Hoofers go places under their own power along with a symbol of good luck.
Over the next few years, Hoofers began building up their outings and sporting equipment to include skis, toboggans, archery, and more. By the end of the 1930s, the clubs moved their operations into the theater wing of Memorial Union, where they can still be found.
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Ice Sledding
1984 – Students take advantage of a nice winter's day during a sled race on Lake Mendota.
Image courtesy of the UW-Madison Archives, #040502as222.
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The UW Toboggan Club
1929 – The UW Toboggan Club built a run from Observatory Hill to Lake Mendota in 1886. In January 1911, a new wooden run opened which was 600 feet long and 3 feet wide, with an additional 600 feet cleared out onto the lake. The Wisconsin Hoofers replaced the wooden structure with a concrete chute in 1933, which was demolished in 1939 to make way for Elizabeth Waters Hall.
Image courtesy of the UW-Madison Archives, #24/14/4.
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Summer Prom Queen
Early 1960s – The Summer Prom Queens pose on a Wisconsin Hoofers sailboat.
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Hoofer Outing Club
Wisconsin Hoofer Outing Club plays on Lake Mendota.
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Yoga on Lake Mendota
2016 — Undeterred by darkening morning skies and an approaching storm front, a group of women maintain balance during an Outdoor UW standup paddleboard (SUP) yoga class led by instructor Sarah Calvert, second from right, on Lake Mendota.
Image courtesy of University of Wisconsin-Madison, Jeff Miller.
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Mega-SUP
2017 — Students enjoy a beautiful day on Lake Mendota while trying out the Supsquatch, a multi-person stand-up paddleboard. Outdoor UW at Memorial Union offers many paddling rentals so the campus community can experience the lake.
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Sailing Championship on Lake Mendota
2010 — Two Wisconsin Sailing Team members tack and jibe their sailboat along a course on Lake Mendota as they compete in the 2010 Intercollegiate Sailing Association National Championship.
Image courtesy of University of Wisconsin-Madison, Jeff Miller.
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Historic Ski Jump
1922 – A view of spectators gathered around the end of the Muir Knoll ski jump on Lake Mendota to watch the Badger Ski Club participate in the Wisconsin state championship ski tournament. Cars are visible parked on the lake.