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Skateboarding Becomes Professional Passion
By Judith Philipps Otto 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 
Table Of Contents - March 2005
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