College Sailing Team Spotlight
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Location/Enrollment: Madison, Wis., 28,690 undergraduates, 9,116 graduates, 2,640 professionals
Sailing Site: Lake Mendota
Facilities/Boats: Located within the Memorial Student Union, the Hoofer Sailing Club will undergo a renovation this fall. The new facility will contain locker rooms and showers, sail storage, a repair shop, and a lakefront lounge. The team’s fleet of 138 boats ranges from Tech Dinghies to E-Scows and kiteboards, but the team primarily uses the 12 420s, six FJ’s, eight Lasers and two J22s.
Coaching: Dave Elsmo
Team Status: Club
The University of Wisconsin-Madison sits on the shores of Lake Mendota, a prime location for the sailing team. The sailors are members of the Hoofer Sailing Club, which sponsors the team as part of the university’s outdoor recreation program.
The student-run club team has always been well organized, and this year, welcomed its first full-time head coach, Dave Elsmo. “I can reduce the burden on the sailors by running organized, challenging, and fast-paced practices,” says Elsmo, who previously coached at the University of Minnesota. “They get to focus on being the best sailors and students they can be.”
Wisconsin had a productive fall season, qualifying for a spot at the ICSA Match Race Nationals in San Francisco. “Together, this team [Phil Morley, Megan Six and Jeremy McMahon] had done the legwork to be competitive at match racing and worked hard for their sixth-place finish,” says Elsmo.
With the addition of a steady coach, this student-run team has taken the next step in its development. “I have nothing but the highest expectations this spring,” says Elsmo. “We have a solid, deep team that will continue to push its limits and results.”
Did you know?
In 1967, Sailing Club commodore Robert Kuehlthau was one of 14 sailors named to the first-ever ICSA All-America Team.
_ Access our College Sailing Team Spotlight archives, and visit the University of Wisconsin-Madison sailing team’s website. _
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