Active and competitive as a child, Jon Comer was hit by a car when he was four years old and has been an amputee since age seven. Now in his late 20s, he has achieved pro status as a skateboarder and tours the country doing public demonstrations that inspire others to strive to reach their goals.
Says Jon, "When I was ten years old, my older brother got into skating, and I just followed him into it. I got hooked, and Ive been doing it ever since."
Being an amputee is not really a factor in his choice of career--or in motivating him to excel at it, Comer believes. "It's just really fun. It's still something that I enjoy. Skateboarding is challenging for anyone; but though it's probably more challenging for me than most, it's still something that I do purely because I enjoy it. It happens to be my job, too--but I still do it just because it's fun!"
Going Pro
Comer became a pro after years of competing in skateboard contests around the country and eventually gained a sponsorship from a skateboard company.
"I just kept doing better and better in contests, and then I turned pro about six years ago. Now I have a lot of different sponsors--skateboard sponsors, clothing sponsors, and others, including Freedom Innovations. I travel, do a lot of tours and demonstrations, and a little bit of competition, plus endorsements and such," explained Comer.
Where many skaters specialize, Comer describes himself as "pretty well-rounded." He adds, "I do a variety of things. Some skaters will only skate the big ramps or only skate the street, but I do pretty much everything. As far as demos, they usually happen at a skateboard park. I show up and skate--do whatever comes to me. No set routine--just freestyle. It's a lot of fun."
Parents, TSRH Aid Success
Comer credits his success to his parents, who chauffeured him to all those childhood contests across the country, and also to his backup crew at Texas Rite Scottish Childrens Hospital, Dallas.
"The whole time I went there they really encouraged all the kids to go for whatever they wanted. When I got into skating, they were really supportive. Any time I came in with something broken or smashed up, they fixed it for me right away so I could get back out there and get skating again. If it weren't for them, I don't think I would have taken it as far as I have. I've smashed up the sockets pretty badly several times."
Comer is casual about the risk to his remaining body parts, however. He mentions a dislocated ankle and a fractured tibia on his residual limb, but adds, "Im still getting over that--but other than that, it's just sprained wrists and broken fingers and stuff like that."
Small stuff. Right.
When he's not hurt, Comer skates five days a week--his young son occasionally accompanies him to the skate park, " but he's not as into it as I am yet."
When he retires from being a professional, after another decade or so, "I'll definitely still be skating till I can't walk any more," Comer promises.
Advice: 'Do It'
"If there is something that you want to pursue," he advises, "definitely do it. Like everybody else, most amputees have to find what they like and go for it. I've actually met a lot of kids whose dads try to get them into skating because they meet me--but if your heart's not in it, you're not going to enjoy it as much, and you're not going to try as hard to be your best."
See the Jon Comer story at www.neverbeendone.com
