2020 Door County Sea Kayak Symposium - July 9/10-12, 2020 (Arrival to Door County evening of July 9)

This symposium is sponsored by Rutabaga and hosted at Rowley's Bay Resort in beautiful Door County. This is a chance for Hoofers to paddle sea kayaks on Lake Michigan in a beautiful setting and to get quality mentorship/training outside of the club and to bring their skills back to the club. I have attended and taught before, and many other club members have either attended or instructed at the symposium. Pleae feel free to ask us about our experience. If you intend to register and attend, please contact me to coordinate boat and gear. Given the scheduling and costs involved, I am posting early to enable folks to plan and coordinate boat, gear, and lodging. I am also hoping that this will motivate you to develop skills through the club to enable you to make the most of the experience. I am working on ways to possibly reduce the costs for Hoofers.

What’s it about? Watch this video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y2ga_7EgN8

Door County Sea Kayak Symposium Website:

http://www.paddlers.com/everyonepaddles/page.asp?pgid=1016

When: July 9/10-12, 2020 (Participants often arrive on the evening of July 9 to be ready to participate on July 10.)

Where: On Lake Michigan at Rowley Bay Resort in Door County, WI. ~ 5hrs drive from Madison.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/eUuPpAAMrdFS1k2M9

Rating Required:SK1 and up (If you need help deciding if this is a good fit for you, please feel free to contact me directly by email.)

Why's it so great: This symposium offers dozens of courses organized by skill level. It is run by ACA and BCU certified instructors and covers every aspect of sea kayaking.  You choose your own class schedule based on skill level. There are land and water-based instructional courses as well as guided expeditions around Lake Michigan. Some examples of instructional classes are Greenland paddling, Navigation, and Surf & Waves. Guided trips are both full and half-day. You have the choice of skill-builder trips where rescue scenarios are mixed with the expedition, or you can strictly do touring.

Skill level descriptions will be on the website and instructors will be double checking your abilities. So, choose what you think is the most appropriate level. If you intend to register and attend, please contact me to coordinate boat and gear and if you would like help choosing classes/trips. The full schedule and details for registration should be available in December 2019.

Cost: You are responsible for symposium and lodging costs (below) and food (some meals are provided by symposium).

You will need to register through the symposium’s website and pay registration fees (more info below). If you intend to register and attend, please contact me so I can help coordinate boat and gear. Using Hoofers Club Gear makes this much more affordable.

When you look at the variety of guided expeditions and instructional opportunities the value goes a long way.  If you need sea kayak equipment we are approved to use Hoofer equipment. This saves the expense of having to rent boats/paddles/skirts.

REGISTRATION/FEES (will be updated in December 2019)
Symposium Details and Registration

http://www.paddlers.com/everyonepaddles/page.asp?pgid=1016

Scheduling: You have the choice to attend 1, 2, or all 3 days. Cost varies upon how many days you sign up for.  

Below are the prices from 2019. These may change slightly when the details are updated. I am working on ways to possibly reduce the costs for Hoofers 

Before April 15th
3 day: $350/person
2 day: $320/person
1 day: $240/person

After April 15th
3 day: $380/person
2 day: $350/person
1 day: $260/person

LODGING: There are rooms available at Rowley's Bay Resort. You can also camp at Wagontrail Campgound and have the choice of bringing a tent (your own or through the club) or a reserving a yert. Links are below.

Rowley's Bay Resort:
http://rowleysbayresort.com/

Wagontrail Campgroud:
http://www.wagontrailcampground.com/

This lesson (formerly Beginner Racing) is designed for students with previous sailing experience that are interested in learning about competitive sailboat racing! Our Beginner Racing curriculum will teach sailors the basics of advanced sail trim, the Racing Rules of Sailing and how to grow as a team!

It is recommended that participants have completed at least one session of Advanced Daycamp or Sailing 2, or have sailing experiences on dinghy-type sailboats. Students will apply these skills to sailboat racing under the direction of our staff, which includes nationally ranked, collegiate sailors who are passionate about what they do.

This class focuses on learning the basics of sailing in a fun, positive and safety-conscious environment. Geared toward the total beginner, this class introduces students to identifying wind direction, rigging and launching, sailing a straight course, tacking and jibing around a buoy, and recovery from a capsize. In addition, youth learn knots, parts of a boat, basic sail trim, and are expected to assist others and treat their equipment with respect.

The RS Zest, Badger Tech, and the Badger Sloop are the main boats used for this class. The goal is for students to feel comfortable sailing solo and advance their skills enough to move on to Sailing 2.

In addition to continuing basic skills (see Sailing 1), students will learn more advanced sailing theory, continuing to improve skills of launching and landing, sailing on all points of sail with proper sail trim, handling wind shifts and puff and further developing communication and teamwork skills.

Students taking this course should already be comfortable sailing solo and have completed either Sailing 1 or Sailing Day Camp.

Students taking this course should already be comfortable sailing solo. In addition to continuing basic skills (see Sailing 1), students learn more advanced sailing theory, continue to develop skills of launching and landing, sailing in all points of sail with proper sail trim, handling wind shifts and puffs, problem-solving, and further developing communication and teamwork skills.

The Badger Tech is used, although students are also introduced to more advanced boats including the 420s and Laser. Repeating this course is highly recommended as students continue to develop their skills and knowledge with each subsequent session.

This class focuses on the fun and basics of windsurfing including rigging, balance, launching, sailing in a straight line, beginning maneuvers, upwind sailing and returning to the pier. We suggest students weigh a minimum of 100 pounds and be 4’10″.

About

The Board of Captains (BOC) meets regularly throughout the year (typically biweekly on Monday evenings at 6:00). These meetings are a critical component of running the club as the club's constitution vests great authority in the BOC. If you are interested in learning more about how the club operates, please feel free to attend. 

Meeting Agendas

Available on the website: https://www.hoofersailing.org/documents

Agenda Items

Do you have a question or concern you think the BOC should address directly in a BOC meeting? Email the Commodore at commoodore@hoofersailing.org

When & Where

Check the TITU for room assignment. https://union.wisc.edu/events-and-activities/

About

The Hoofer Riding Club (HRC) meets regularly throughout the year (first and third Wednesdays at 7 PM). Over the summer, the HRC executive board will be meeting every other Wednesday then transitioning back to the first and third Wednesdays once the fall semester begins. Our general members are welcome to join if you are interested in learning more about how the club operates, please feel free to attend. 

Meeting Agendas

Posted Monday prior to meetings

You can also find past meeting minutes on our website at https://www.hooferriding.org/documents

Agenda Items

Do you have a question or concern you think the HRC should address directly in a HRC meeting? Email the President at ridingpresident@hoofers.org

When

Every other Wednesday from 7 PM to 8 PM

Where

Google Meet:

To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/zsr-pa...
Otherwise, to join by phone, dial 1 605-865-2299 and enter this PIN: 134 902 814#

In addition to continuing basic skills (see Sailing 1), students will learn more advanced sailing theory, continuing to improve skills of launching and landing, sailing on all points of sail with proper sail trim, handling wind shifts and puff and further developing communication and teamwork skills.

Students taking this course should already be comfortable sailing solo and have completed either Sailing 1 or Sailing Day Camp.

So you've been practicing your paddling skills on Mendota, building up some endurance, and participating in some short trips to waterways around Madison.  Perhaps you've even been on a day trip or two over to Milwaukee and paddled some waves on Lake Michigan.  If you're still yearning for a Superior adventure, look no further. 

This trip to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore will take your paddling to the next level, while still remaining accessible to those who are relatively new to Great Lakes paddling. Rather than skipping straight to the (highly-recommended) challenges of island hopping, we will spend several days exploring the area around Little Sand Bay. Possible destinations involving open-water crossings include the sea caves on Sand Island, the beach on York Island, and the historic lighthouse on Raspberry Island. While we will not paddle in any really rough conditions, we will likely have the opportunity to safely play in some larger conditions than we usually get on Mendota without an accompanying storm. If you're hoping to make the transition from shorter quiet-water trips to longer expeditions or eventually develop advanced skills like kayak surfing in bigger conditions, this shore-based Superior trip offers an ideal bridge.  If you are a more experienced paddler, come to enjoy one of the nation's most scenic paddling venues with only a few hours spent in the car, as well as the fine company of your fellow Hoofers. 

Overview

Where: Little Sand Bay, WI and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore

When: July 5-8th

Required Rating: SK1 or higher.  Also, you will need to have paddled with me at some point prior to the start of the trip (but don't worry, we will arrange some trips near Madison earlier in the season to ensure this happens).

Itinerary: We will leave Madison at 8am on 7/9 and arrive at Little Sand Bay campground that afternoon. From the 6th-7th we will explore the nearby shoreline and islands (potentially Sand, York, & Raspberry), returning to our campsite in late afternoon each day. We may paddle a bit on the morning of the 8th, and would depart Little Sand Bay for Madison on the afternoon of the 8th.

Lodging: Tent-camping at Little Sand Bay campground (hanging hammocks is also an option for those so inclined). Bathrooms, showers, and potable water are available on site.  Hint: Bring roll of quarters for showers (~$2/shower).

Food: TBD, but probably bring your own (my goal is to keep the needed trip deposit to a minimum).  We may go into town to eat some evening, if people want. 

Notable Gear:  The water on Superior will still be cool even in July, so wetsuits/drysuits and neoprene boots will be required, as will additional thermal layers that are warm  when wet. The club can supply wetsuits.  All other regular equipment (boat, paddle, pfd, sprayskirt, helmet, paddle jacket, etc.),  can also be obtained from the club. A gear list will be forthcoming to participants.

Cost: Approx. $120 to cover gas, camping reservations, and boat use fee; any unused funds will be evenly distributed among trip members after trip completion.
 

This class focuses on learning the basics of sailing in a fun, positive and safety-conscious environment. Geared toward the total beginner, this class introduces students to identifying wind direction, rigging and launching, sailing a straight course, tacking and jibing around a buoy, and recovery from a capsize. In addition, youth learn knots, parts of a boat, basic sail trim, and are expected to assist others and treat their equipment with respect.

The RS Zest, Badger Tech, and the Badger Sloop are the main boats used for this class. The goal is for students to feel comfortable sailing solo and advance their skills enough to move on to Sailing 2.

Students taking this course should already be comfortable sailing solo. In addition to continuing basic skills (see Sailing 1), students learn more advanced sailing theory, continue to develop skills of launching and landing, sailing in all points of sail with proper sail trim, handling wind shifts and puffs, problem-solving, and further developing communication and teamwork skills.

The Badger Tech is used, although students are also introduced to more advanced boats including the 420s and Laser. Repeating this course is highly recommended as students continue to develop their skills and knowledge with each subsequent session.

In addition to continuing basic skills (see Sailing 1), students will learn more advanced sailing theory, continuing to improve skills of launching and landing, sailing on all points of sail with proper sail trim, handling wind shifts and puff and further developing communication and teamwork skills.

Students taking this course should already be comfortable sailing solo and have completed either Sailing 1 or Sailing Day Camp.

Sailing Day Camps focus on having fun on the water while learning the basics of sailing. Total novices are welcome as are those with a prior familiarity with sailing. Students learn basic sailing theory, rigging, and launching, sailing a straight course, tacking and jibing, parts of a boat, and recovery from a capsize. On-land games and activities are geared toward developing a love and appreciation of sailing while learning sailing terminology, safety, knots, and other seamanship skills.

The RS Zest, Badger Tech, and the Badger Sloop are the primary boats used. Bring lunch money for food at the Union or bring a sack lunch along with a water bottle.