Looking back, I feel so blessed to have been part of a skate scene with such diversity. To have experienced that much longboard love from one of the best cities in the world. So many skaters, from so many backgrounds, with so many stories, of all different ages and various walks of life. We all somehow fit together and connect like family. For myself and many others, it is the birthplace of unity for longboarders. If you’ve ever visited the NYC skate scene then you know, and your life was probably touched by an unbelievable amount of love and acceptance. I was greatly influenced by many of those people on a daily basis. One in particular stands out in my mind, and I am forever grateful for the lessons she brought to my life through skating.
I met Salome two summers ago. I was teaching for Sure Skateboards “boarding school” when I got a call from a father interested in taking skate lessons with his daughter. He was what we call “stoked”, and I was rather excited to be teaching a father daughter duo. A week later, I stood face to face with an 8 year old girl that I will nm act the same. Different people are affected in different ways. For almost all children with the disorder, their ability to communicate is greatly challenged. However, contrary to what people may think, those with autism respond to their environment like anyone else. If an activity interests them, they have the ability to fully focus and concentrate on that area without distraction. This is why a physical activity like skating can be a beneficial therapy.
Week after week, I hoped to teach this little girl something. Anything at all. A basic slide, foot breaking, or even carving. Instead, she would push circles around me so contently, almost as if she was in her own universe. She was comfortable and had such natural movements–such peace. Just going with the unseen flow, and I enjoyed watching her experience this flow. As for the lesson, it soon became clear that she would learn these things on her own time, in her own way, most likely by herself. As time passed, I really got to know Salome, her mom Lorena, and her dad David. They began to offer me rides home to my Brooklyn apartment after lessons on their way to the beach to go surfing. Those drives gave us all time to talk and get to know each other on a more personal level. Salome’s parents told me all about her love and dedication to ice hockey and how in tune she was with capoeira, a Brazilian martial art. I found out that when she was diagnosed with autism, she wouldn’t look anyone in the eyes. Salome spent most of the time in her own world, tapping objects, spinning them, or putting them in her mouth. She would have two hour tantrums when Lorena would try to put on her shoes. She screamed frantically at the sound of a vacuum, lawn mower, hand dryer, or drill. It was in these times that some sort of outlet was a must. Because of her love of, and connection to, movement, her parents devoted their free time to Salome’s swimming, surfing, capoeira, and ice hockey. Salome found these activities to be fun and therapeutic, and they taught her parents many things as well. Their passion grew together.
After a little stop by Uncle Funky’s Boards in NYC’s West Village, they picked up a Penny board and their interest in skating started to become a large part of their everyday life. A few skate lessons followed, and David and Lorena were hooked as well. They upped their board collection and started skating to and from work on the daily. They all found the kick-push way of commuting to be a huge release of frustration and stress. It was a wonderful activity their family of three could do together. Watching their daughter smile as she cruised around was an unbeatable form of therapy, and it became a large part of everyday life for the entire family.
Through watching Salome and spending time with her mom and dad, I began looking at our differences as not a barrier between us, but something to be celebrated. Autism is just adding to the diversity that forms the human chain; a lesson to appreciate those who experience beauty in different ways. The rest of us often fail to notice the little things by letting the voices in our heads take over. We over think, and we miss out on the natural flow of the moment. This little person finds joy in the simplest of tasks by being right here, right now. God knows what she is thinking, but whatever it is, it doesn’t seem to get in the way of her feeling. The flow of each wave of the ocean, the rhythm and melody of a song, skating with the wind through her hair, and the sun beating on her little nose. It’s not a competition to her. The reward is in every push, and I believe we can all take something from that. To let go, and just enjoy the simple act of riding a board, using our bodies to free ourselves from anything but the here and now. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from Salome about autism, it’s that her condition is not a misfortune, but maybe more like looking at life from a new and different perspective. Sure, she has a different set of challenges from the average person, but to take Salome away from her autism would make her someone else. For whatever reason, or maybe none at all, she is the way she is, and it makes her beautiful. I think the most important part of all of this is that she seems to be perfectly content with marching to the beat of her own drum, and I consider myself lucky to have been exposed to her song. To dive into unknown territory, join her in an alien world. No judgment, no assumptions. Not even any language. Just sharing this passion for fun and skating, here and now.
Salome now tolerates the loud noises of everyday life. She connects to others more easily and has a better understanding of the world around her. Although her responses are still silent, she communicates in her own way, by smiling. She has become centered and more relaxed as a result of skating and her various other hobbies. They have incorporated balance into her life and taught her parents many new things as well. “The only one setting the limits on what you can do is yourself”, her mom says.