Last Update: April 2024
Welcome to Hoofer Windsurfing
Why Windsurf?
Both a Casual and High Octane Sport
Up until the 80s windsurfing was something of a relaxed, family-oriented sport. In the 90s the sport gained a reputation for being a bit more extreme. We think both of these have a lot to offer!
You can windsurf alone in winds many other sailing craft are prohibited from going out in, or with family and friends on a lazy summer day with a mild breeze.
For families looking for a sport they can all enjoy, windsurfing is a safe sport which does not require a high level of swimming adeptness and which for beginners is safer for younger sailors compared to some other personal sailing sports.
For adrenaline junkies, windsurfing offers a water craft designed to plane early. If you’ve seen windsurfers out on the water doing 15+ mph (up to about 30-35 mph on Mendota), that’s planing!
A Good Place to Learn
Hoofer Sailing is a great place to learn how to windsurf! With a variety of classes, a dedicated UW lifesaving station, a good variety of equipment and much more you will have ample opportunity to get experience with different kinds of equipment to become a well-rounded sailor.
Equipment-wise we have many beginner boards, as well as intermediate and advanced boards. We have a full range of sail sizes, all the way from quite small sails to sails so large we can’t even hang them up in our storage!
Camaraderie and Culture
Hoofer Windsurfing is part of a vibrant windsurfing/kiteboarding/ wingfoiling community in Madison, many (most?) of whom were at one point members of Hoofer Sailing.
Culture-wise, you might find yourself becoming a bit addicted to the sport like we have become: weather junkies, heading down to the union just as the dark skies roll in, always looking for a strong west wind for that perfect session!
Within the club there are a number of windsurfing activities, including the Yu Chen Windsurfing Outreach day, typically held in August.
Frequently Asked Questions
Isn’t Windsurfing Dangerous?
There is always an element of danger to any water sport, but at the beginning and intermediate levels windsurfing has been shown to be safer than some other popular sports, such as kiteboarding.
Will Windsurfing Help Me Sail Other Watercraft?
Windsurfers are both simpler (in terms of equipment) and more complicated (in terms of flexibility) than boats. Many of the skills you acquire by windsurfing will help you when sailing!
Isn’t the New Big Thing Wingfoiling or Kitefoiling?
Yup! When kiteboarding came out, many windsurfers went to check it out (a bit like how skiers went to check out snowboarding when it first came out). And now that wingfoiling is a thing, many have put their efforts there instead.
A good sailor will have a knowledge of all of these disciplines! As a more mature sport, if you bought windsurfing gear now you will be somewhat assured that your gear will be considered up-to-date for a good while, whereas winging gear is changing nearly yearly. Windsurfing is also considered a fairly technical discipline among these - chances are, if you are a good windsurfer, some of those skills should help you in these other sports as well.
Am I Too Old to Windsurf?
Probably not! We know septegenarians who are out there having a blast when the winds are gnarly.
How Fast Can I Go?
How fast you can go depends on (at least) 3 things: the wind conditions, the equipment, and (last but not least!) your ability. In 1979, after several weeks of attempts, the world speed record was about 28 mph. With modern equipment, that’s easily doable today on Lake Mendota! The current world speed record for windsurfing is approximately 70 mph. That’s on very special equipment with very special conditions. On Mendota we’ve seen experienced windsurfers going about 35mph.
What Kinds of Windsurfing Equipment Does Hoofer Sailing Have?
The club maintains a fleet of 16-18 wide/long beginner boards and 25+ progressive/intermediate boards and advanced boards (with more in storage which may get pulled out when the winds pick up), including a few long boards great for cruising across the lake. It also maintains a fairly broad fleet of sails (over 100, though only 60 are rigged at a time): this is important as, unlike sailboats, windsurfers need to have different sails for different conditions.