Beating those midwinter blues: Hoofers hit the ice

Hoofers Club members and other Madisonians beat the midwinter blues at the Hoofer Winter Carnival Feb. 5 on the Lake Mendota ice off Memorial Union Terrace.

Astronomy lecturers and Hoofers scuba club members Walt Harris, right, and Mark Quigley brave the 34 degree waters of Lake Mendota for a quick ice dive in Lake Mendota off Memorial Union Terrace during the annual Hoofers Winter Carnival February 5. Quigley ventured about 20 yards under the ice with a safety line before resurfacing to exclaim, “That water’s pretty damn cold! It will stop your heart.” Photo: Jeff Miller

Scuba Club divers hit the frigid drink for brief swims under the Lake Mendota’s solidified surface during a morning ice-diving demonstration. Photo: Jeff Miller

A valiant attempt to swat a save fails as ball bypasses broom during the Hoofers’ afternoon broomball tourney. Photo: Jeff Miller

With a gentle swish, a golfer nudges his tennis ball out of the rough fluff during an ice golf tournament. Photo: Jeff Miller

Hoofers blow snow from the ice to prepare the field of play for broomballers. Photo: Jeff Miller

Shards of frozen water fly as sculptors chisel away at their carved creations. Photo: Jeff Miller