Have you ever walked down the beach and seen people riding thin boards on the skim of a wave? Ever wondered what those people were doing? It is called skim boarding and it is the favorite past time of junior Corey Mahoney, who recently competed in the 40th annual East Coast Surfing Championship held in Virginia Beach at the end of August.

Skim boarding is a relatively new sport. It takes place when someone waits for an incoming wave and catches it with their board. The person then rides what is called the skim of the wave. This all takes place where the waves meet the beach. People ride skim boards to see how long they can go and they can do tricks at the same time.

"My favorite trick is the back big spin," said Mahoney, "It is where you do a 360 degree spin with your board, then twist your body 180 degrees and land on the board.” Mahoney first began skim boarding at 8-years-old. By the time he was 11-years-old he began competing in tournaments in Denbeigh Beach, Delaware, his hometown. Around age 15, Mahoney started traveling outside of his home area to participate in other competitions. Mahoney cites his friends from home as being his main influence to start skim boarding. "All my friends were doing it and it seemed like the thing at the time," said Mahoney.

Mahoney finds time to skim board while juggling a full course load and playing lacrosse at Virginia Wesleyan. During the summer is when Mahoney the most time to compete in skim boarding tournaments. He either competes in amateur competitions or does Emcee to keep people interested. When asked about what motivated him to begin skim boarding, he simply stated, “to keep busy.” Skim boarding kept him busy this summer, as he picked up a sponsor in Dewey Beach Surf and Sport, his board shop from home. The Slick Swimwear clothing line offered to sponsor him as well. By the time August and ECSC rolled around, Mahoney was not looking to get picked up by anyone else. He was more interested in representing his clothing sponsor since they ran the competition.

The ECSC was a season ending tournament for Mahoney, where he took second place in the Men's Amateur Division. He actually did not know that he was competing until a week prior to the event. "My clothing sponsor ran the competition. They called to ask me about the skim boarding contest and I was like ‘contest'?" said Mahoney. "I didn't know they had a skim boarding competition but that first day of ECSC I entered and competed. I'm all about having fun not about winning," said Mahoney. "I liked ECSC because it was about fun. "

There are professional and amateur competitions up and down the East Coast, such as ECSC. The season for skim boarding competitions starts in April and ends in December. These competitions are family oriented and fun. Professional competitors receive money for placing in the top 6 while amateurs receive trophies and may get sponsored. However, in the ECSC Mahoney was looking to get his name out there. "I would have competed without my clothing sponsor," said Mahoney. "Other competitions are about bureaucracy and who is better than who but this was laid back."

Mahoney also runs a week long camp in Dewey Beach for skim boarders through age 14 when he is not competing. Mahoney himself is only 20. He thinks that skim boarding will become the next generation of extreme sport as it grows in popularity. "I see skim boarding as becoming as big as skate boarding or surfing is," said Mahoney. Mahoney sees skim boarding as a fun way to meet new people while perfecting his skills and tricks. With aspirations of going pro after college, Mahoney's participation in tournaments over the summer as well as in ECSC helped to get his name out there.

“In a few years you may get picked to go even higher," says Mahoney. "In a small way this competition brings me closer to my goal." To Mahoney, ECSC was a great way to end his season. When the new season starts he will be back out there, competing and working hard to get what it takes to compete at the professional level. "I believe I've found a way to make a living while competing in skim boarding, something I love," said Mahoney.

Dr. Catharine Cookson, Director of the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom, has not taught any classes for the past two semesters. Many people at VWC are not aware that the reason for this is because last January she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Cookson has since undergone surgery and chemotherapy and is now finishing her last rounds of treatment, which has been completely successful.

"I haven't felt this good since January," said Cookson. She had tremendous support not only from her family but from her associates at VWC as well. She received so many letters and cards of support that really helped her during the times she could not get out of the house.

"This is the best place I've ever worked," said Cookson. This was the first time Cookson has been diagnosed with cancer. However, there is a family history, such as her father dying of cancer at age 49. Her diagnosis was especially frightening because she too was 49 when diagnosed. Although she did not consider herself seriously ill, she has a new appreciation for the medical community. She is also now aware of how very expensive it is to be sick as each treatment of chemotherapy cost over $2000.

"If it weren't for our excellent medical coverage," said Cookson, "we could have lost our house.” She is also very grateful to Kelly Jackson for keeping the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom open when she could not be there. She has learned how many people are really out there to help others in need. I have learned how vulnerable we are to these kind of unexpected things," said Cookson. She plans to resume classes next semester. She says that despite all she has been through she feels very lucky.

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