The first time Corey Vaughn laid eyes on what would become a world-class waterski school right here in Bumpass, VA, in 2008, he knew he had a chance at something really special.

“It’s a waterskier dream,” said Vaughn, in an interview with The Breeze. “I knew I was going to do everything in my power to stay right there. I thought if I give it everything I got, I could make a go of this… and I’ve managed to do just that.”

Vaughn, now married to his waterski partner, Amelia, has been competing at the champion level since the age of nine. He has tied for 1st place against a world record holder at the US National in West Palm Beach, FL, is a 2nd time Herb’s Cup Champion, a 27th Virginia State Champion, and is the 9th person in the world to ever ski a complete 41’off pass, which, in the waterski world, is an extremely difficult feat.
While waterskiing competitions has taken Vaughn all over the world, including Chile, Mexico, Paris, and Malaysia, to name a few, his true passion lies right here in our own backyard, at the Bum Pass Water Ski Club.

Built to world-record specifications, John and Doug Whitlock carved a small recreational lake into a waterski training lake after they bought it in 2005. With their blessing, Vaughn has grown the facilities into a training school, including lodging, a “Peace, Love and Waterskiing” pro shop, and a long list of seasonal regulars who come to train with him throughout the summer.

“The Whitlock family did a spectacular job on the lake. The 22 boeys are all set proportioned to each other and in exact location for a tournament… if anyone set a world record here, it would be recognized,” he said.

Vaughn met the Whitlock family while volunteer coaching at a waterski camp, where he was working with their children. After camp, the family approached him and asked if he would be interested in teaching in Bumpass. “It was the very same camp that I learned as a kid. The Whitlock family approached me afterward, and said ‘Our kids really enjoyed skiing with you.’ “

Today, the Bum Pass Water Ski Club is the Eastern region’s only water ski school, and gets avid waterski students from all over the world, as far as Anchorage, Alaska… and also England, Canada and even Germany. And of course, as close as Lake Anna and Washington DC.

“I feel very fortunate to have Lake Anna just around the corner. A lot of people love it,” explained Vaughn, who also expressed gratitude to his wife, Amelia, for being his partner through it all – whether he’s traveling alone, or traveling together with their three-year-old son, Seth.

“We met the traditional way,” he laughed, remembering trying to find her on Facebook after they met at a music festival. “We didn’t carry our phones back then… She was a John Hopkins Volleyball player, (she) began skiing when she met me. We do it together, shes my main training partner and has progressed rapidly, up to the point where she competed nationally with 7th place.”

The Vaughn family is hosting their annual Bumpass Buoyfest on Saturday, June 8th at 3654 Buckner Rd in Bumpass. It is a free event promising “waterskiing, live music, lawn games, sunshine, good eats and drinks.”

Jen Bailey

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