University of Wisconsin Madison - Badger Yearbook (Madison, WI)

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Ten for the Board, Ten for the Sail; Hang Twenty For many years sailing has been a favorite pastime of students at the Uni- versity of Wisconsin. The Lake Men- dota setting and easy access to the over 90 sailboats owned by the Hooferis Outing Club has encouraged many stu- dents to try this energy-saving sport. In the spring of 1979 the members of Hoofers were treated to a different form of sailing; windsurfing. Known in some circles as sailing in its purest form, windsurfingis popularity on cam- pus has soared. This past summer, stu- dents waited in long lines to use the Windsurfers, which were loaned for only an hour at a time to maximize availability. Hoofers have six Windsurfers, one Windsurfer Star and one simulator board for lessons on land. A Windsur- fer consists of a 12 foot long hull much like that of a surfboard. Anchored on top of the board is a 14-foot mast with a 56-square-foot dacron sail. Attached to this is a 9 foot long boom, which when used in combination with the stern fin, allows the sailor to manipu- late wind power. To use a Windsurfer, one must belong to the Hoofer Sailing Club and M. Bowers by Paul Grinde must earn a light weather tech rating. This rating certifies the sailors basic sailing knowledge. After fulfilling the required prerequisites, students usually head out to the piers in search of some- one to give them lessons on how to Windsurf. Once the certified instructor feels the student can safely go on his own, the Hoofers card is stamped and the student is free to try his luck on the lake. According to many people who have tried the sport, it can be a frightening experience to find oneself drifting too far away from shore. However, there is usually little need to worry as someone is always patrolling the lake when ves- sels are out. Windsurfing has become another one of the refreshing study breaks that students are always looking for. Even rookies need not have a great deal of strength or a wide background in sail- ing to enjoy the sport. With a little courage, determination and a lot of work, the excitement of windsurfing is accessible to all.

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Wisconsifs short-lived summers leave more time to dream of hanging ten than actually doing it. 'x E. Kurth Sharing the water with colorlul neighbors.

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Y3! w .5 . Wheels to Escape By The call of the open road draws cyclists from perilous traffic routes to freewheeling. Whirring freewheels and rusty crank-sets share the bike paths of Mad- ison nearly year round. Some 145,000 bicycles jockey for position on city streets with belching dump trucks, overbearing buses, and impatient motorists. Competition for space extends to the bike racks as mopeds invade the territory. This year, the university realized the bikerts peril and instituted much- needed improvements in bike paths. Buses were rerouted to Johnson Street making University Avenue bus lanes open to bikers only. Even though this hasntt prevented lost motorists fromt inching down the Texclusivet, lanes, the bikers appeal for equal treatment is being heard as more people take inter- est in this form of energy-efficient transport. The beauty of a bicycle lies in its ability to entice a biker to turn a monotonous 20-minute walk into an adventuresome 5-minute ride. The investment in touring provides many returns which far outweigh the cost. With each pump of the pedals, blood surges through every limb of the cyclist, giving him a refreshed outlook on the day ahead. The purist may escape to the differ- ent niches of the Arboretum for relief from the bustling madness of the city. The trails unfold in a blaze of color dufing the cooling transition to early fall. An escape to the back roads near Madison allows the cyclist an unob- structed view of the countryside and breaths of air which have not been inhaled by a carburetor. Transforming a standard bicycle into to 5 3 O n: E '0 5.4 a touring bike requires little effort. A rack must be mounted on the rear of the bicycle to hold the panniers. Panni- ers are nylon bags used for storing all the gear necessary for self-snfficiency on the road. Basic camriing gear, 5 water bottle, tire pump, and tobl kit fit: comfortably on the bike. ' A cyclisfs effort to break away from the city is immediately rewarded by the absence of noisy city traffic and bum- . bling pedestrians in the bike lane right of way. , ' The route to countryside relaisation may include the risks of a stray eow '01; two along with the snapping teeth 01: farm dogs, but the touring cyclist wilkil gladly side-peddle these hazards know- ing that the shuffling madness of the city is many miles behind.