As a shy kid growing in Gallup, New Mexico, Jerome Damon always questioned how to authentically represent himself, his Navajo heritage, and his interests in the world. Skateboarding proved to be just that outlet for him, allowing him to embrace the ups and downs of life and find resilience through passion. “When I picked up a skateboard, that was the thing that broke me out of my shell,” he said. Jerome evolved his love for the sport into a career and created his company Dalone Skateboards at just 21 years old—which he likened to doing a skateboard trick for the first time. “When I'm learning a new trick, I get anxiety. I kind of get scared. I get shaky a little bit, so I try to make sure I can see myself doing it in my mind. Then that's when I go to the next step to where I just get that courage. The heart starts pumping when you get on the board, it's like, this is it. There's no turning back. I envisioned it. That's the fun part, dreaming. Now it's time to get to work.” He never anticipated the type of exponential growth that would follow, and now today, Dalone Skateboards has worldwide reach with an international base of customers. Incorporating his Navajo roots and traditions into the brand has remained a top priority since inception, and he hopes to inspire others to also embrace and celebrate their own cultures. “My people have been through a lot, been through The Long Walk, and so much just for me to be here... I know who I am and where I come from, and I want to incorporate things about my traditions into these boards. “I really hope that my boards inspire people to actually embrace their tradition, embrace where they are from, and to love who they are… to let them know that they can be themselves ‘Dalone’ no matter what. Check out Dalone: https://www.yelp.com/biz/dalone-skateboards-no-title

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