DePaul sophomore Jae Valdez has owned and operated Freefall Skate Co. since she was a junior in high school, transforming it from a hobby to a thriving business. Having worked in a skate shop in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since the age of 16, Valdez immediately made a connection from her artistic background — both parents were painters — and her newfound passion for skating. She began painting the decks of boards for friends and gradually grew obsessed with the new medium she’d discovered. Eventually, she started freefallskateco as a skateboard and related apparel company. . 📸s and story: jackjohnsonflicks for thedepaulia and #jour276 #photojournalism . #artist #art #artistsoninstagram #artwork #artofinstagram #skate #skateboard #skateboards #skateboarders #depaul #depaulu #depauluniversity #chicago #chicagoartist #painter