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All the clubs offer instruction in their activities. They own all the equipment <br /> members need to participate and both are free or provided for at a low cost. <br /> fir The Hoofer Hang Gliding Club is the newest Club. Intermediate and advanced flying <br /> sites are flown in the Spring Green area, along the bluffs of the Mississippi River, and <br /> along the shores of Lake Michigan. There are many good beginner"training hills" in <br /> the Madison,Janesville, and Milwaukee areas for practicing launch and landing <br /> techniques. <br /> The Hoofer Riding Club manages Pleasantview Stables eight miles west of campus. <br /> They usually own about six horses for use in club lessons, gymkhanas, shows,clinics, <br /> and trail rides. The lesson program is the mainstay of the club and lessons are offered <br /> six days a week. <br /> The Hoofer Sailing Club is the largest Hoofer group, with about 1300-1700 members <br /> annually. It is the largest collegiate sailing club in the United States, second only to <br /> the Naval Academy. Seven fleets consisting of 85 boats and 45 windsurfers adorn the <br /> Lake Mendota shoreline behind the Memorial Union. Over 1500 adult group lessons <br /> are taught per year along with sailing for more than 150 youth. An annual <br /> membership of about$150 entitles one to free lessons and equipment usage for a <br /> whole year. Historically, club members have gone to San Diego or Florida during <br /> academic breaks. <br /> The Hoofer Scuba Club provides a varied and in-depth program for those interested <br /> in diving. Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)certification is <br /> available from introductory through advanced levels through the club. Underwater <br /> hockey and underwater pumpkin carvings are two of the more unusual activities the <br /> club offers. The club rounds out seven months of fresh water diving with an annual <br /> ice dive in February and opts for warmer climates over academic breaks.. <br /> The Hoofer Ski &Snowboard Club, while they no longer have a jump, is a very <br /> active group. Instruction in downhill skiing on local slopes is offered weekly in the <br /> winter. Weekend trips are in the upper peninsula. Hoofers are well known for the <br /> their western ski trips. During the last several years trips have gone to Vail,Utah, <br /> Jackson Hole, Steamboat,and Europe. Annually more than 400 members go on trips <br /> out west. Transportation, lodging and lift tickets for five or six days of skiing cost <br /> less than$500 per person. Snowboards are the most recent addition to the Hoofer Ski <br /> & Snowboard Club instruction program. <br /> The Hoofer Outing Club is the most diverse of all the clubs. Their more typical <br /> activities are quiet and whitewater boating,cross country skiing, backpacking, <br /> bicycling,and spelunking. Members can basically plan any event as long as it is legal <br /> and safe. The activities have ranged from wine tasting to sky diving. <br /> Instruction is a very large part of the Hoofer experience. At one time all instruction <br /> was volunteer. Several of the clubs grew to the point where instruction could be <br /> better handled by paid instructors. These instructors,the stable manager and a small <br /> sailing maintenance staff account for the only paid personnel. Costs have been kept <br /> low for club members due to the volunteer administration. <br /> The Wisconsin Union sponsors Hoofers. The Union is on the shore of Lake Mendota. <br /> This location and the support from the Union have acted like a catalyst in the growth <br /> of outdoor programming at Madison. Hoofers are part of the overall programming <br /> goals of the Union which offers films, art, music, political and cultural forums along <br /> with outdoor education. <br /> 5 <br />