Longboarding has recently grown in popularity on the Rowan campus. Although many students only use them for commuting purposes, most have little more knowledge about the sport.

Tyler Mahool is trying to change that.

Mahool, a sophomore chemical engineering major from Franklinville, N.J. is behind Team Tastyskates. The newly-assembled longboarding group was founded during the winter by Mahool and high school friends Rob Jenkins and Doug Knudsen (who attend Richard Stockton College and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, respectively).

“We started skating together in high school, and then we decided we actually wanted to do something about it and kind of branch out, get to the community a little bit more than what we were normally doing instead of skating and doing nothing,” Mahool said.

The unusual team name sprouted from one of those sessions.

“We really love Tastykakes. I personally like Coconut Juniors; Rob and Doug like Butterscotch Krimpets,” Mahool said. “South Jersey is the home of Tastykakes. We saw a truck drive by one time and we were like, ‘Ah, Tastyskates.’”

Team Tastyskates intends to plan a variety of events including community awareness, safety, a learn-to-skate program and a 30-mile skate from Ocean City to Wildwood for charity this summer.

“We want to skate for autism or Down syndrome,” Mahool said. “I personally know people who are autistic. I know kids that have Down syndrome and it’s just, to us, a little more beneficial because we have a first-hand experience with people who have that.”

Team Tastyskates is also looking for interested potential members.

“Our rule is more to actually be on it you have to skate with us a couple of times,” Mahool said. “We’re not going to turn anybody down; it’s just that if you’re going to be active, we want to see your face a little bit.”

However, once spring break rolls around, the boys are planning on massive brainstorming.

“We’re going to be contacting possible different sponsors for different events if we can,” Mahool said. “We’ll end up funding it ourselves to do the first couple of steps, but once things start to pick up, it’ll get a little bit easier.”

Team Tastyskates will hold a 1.8-mile push race at Rowan on March 13 beginning at noon at the Campbell Library, and line-up is at 1 p.m.

“Part of the reason why we’re throwing the one skate next weekend as a small one is to get more people seeing that it’s an actual event with pictures taken and they can come out and skate,” Mahool said.

If you are interested in joining or have any questions, search “Team Tastyskates” on Facebook.