Flow State Convergence: Telemark and Neurodivergence

Source: Katy Higgins Lee, MA, MFT, Tending Paths

Editors Note: Telemark Voices is happy to be joined by another new contributor this month, Alex Limkin of Taos, New Mexico, offering us his perspective on neurodivergence and telemark skiing. Thanks Alex!

Perceiving my own neurodivergence several years ago has prompted me to wonder if there are aspects of free-heel skiing that are particularly appealing to neurodivergent minds.

Could it be that we constitute a driving force within the telemark community, much like we do within the computer science field, video gaming, library science, engineering, and the arts?

Let's find out!

First, for those unfamiliar with the concept of neurodivergence, being neurodivergent (ND) can be something you're born with (like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, giftedness, etc) or acquired (like TBI [brain injury] or CPTSD).

Neurodivergence just means your brain differs in various ways from the "norm."

For the sake of simplicity, we are going to focus on the following three ND neurotypes which I believe constitute the majority of neurodivergence encountered in the telemark community: autism, ADHD and giftedness.

So, what's the first thing you perceive when you observe a tele-skier?

MOVEMENT!

What distinguishes free-heel skiing from fixed-heel skiing (most commonly referred to as alpine skiing) is: MOVEMENT.

While the feet of snowboarders are locked in place, and those of fixed-heelers stay relatively adjacent to each other, the tele-skier in action resembles a frenetic piston, legs pumping rhythmically up and down, feet sliding back and forth as though running down a mountain.

When we consider that a common comfort among the neurodivergent is to engage in "repetitive movements" as a form of regulating and soothing their nervous systems (commonly referred to as "stimming"), it makes sense that the form of skiing that involves the greatest movement--free-heel skiing--would be the most appealing.

While this attraction to motion could be considered sufficient explanation for the prevalence of neurodivergent tele-skiers, there are other aspects worth noting.

Let's take the idea, for instance, that the telemark turn offers amplified sensory input, featuring a deeper and more sustained "sweet spot" than a parallel turn. This is borne out, in part, by the fact that telemark turns are the preferred turn of "sensory-seekers," which is a distinct attribute of being neurodivergent.

Also, as nearly everyone has observed, it is very common to encounter tele-skiers riding alone. While skiing and snowboarding for the majority is viewed as a social activity to be shared for maximum "fun," among tele-skiers it is most common to find them engaging in telemark as a solitary pursuit.

And not just at ski areas, but in backcountry settings as well, which offer unparalleled levels of pristine beauty and peace.

As it turns out, peaceful wilderness settings, solitary pursuits, and solitude are very significant to neurodivergent minds (which can often feel "bombarded" by excess socializing).

Another attractive aspect of telemark is that it is so demanding and challenging. As Tele Craw, an ADHD skier, points out, "Telemark is too demanding to think about literally anything else while in the flow state."

The neurodivergent (with brains that are easily prone to distraction) can find peace and purpose in being able to "hyper-focus" on a single task, and relish the prospect of being so wholly absorbed.

Which leads us to yet another feature of the neurodivergent, the tendency to have intense and obsessive interests, also known as "special interests."

Just consider the devotion and single-minded obsession displayed by many tele skiers who identify so closely with their "special interest" that they even adopt it as part of their name: Tele Mike, Tele Craw, Tele Bob, or even the writer of this article, the legendary "Tele" of Taos Ski Valley. ; )

This phenomenon of identifying so closely with a special interest is simply not mirrored to the same degree among snowboarders and fixed-heelers.

Now, friends, what if we look at the most passionate and committed tele-skiers within the telemark community, those who seem to eat, sleep and breathe Telemark?

While neurodivergence only accounts for approximately 15-20% of the general population, I suspect that roughly half of all hard-core tele skiers are neurodivergent (with a significant number of these skiers unaware of their neurodivergence.)

Sidenote: yes, you can be neurodivergent and unaware of your neurodivergence, particularly if you are "high-masking."

In fact, if you are so "into" telemark that you have taken the time to read this article up to this point (and especially if you should identify with the attached Venn diagram in any meaningful way), there is a significant probability that you are also neurodivergent!

Don't worry, it's not contagious! ; )

Which leads me to one more point, which I think is especially revealing and illuminating.

Ever wonder what the basis is behind the low-key ostracizing/marginalizing/diminishing and even outright ridiculing of tele skiers by--well, just about everybody else in the snowsport community?

Well, let's think about it. The neurodivergent population is very familiar with ostracizing, marginalizing and bullying behaviors.

Because our brains process differently, we often present differently. Whether swaying on the school bus or reading too much or being lost in our daydreams or being unable to remember names or having odd food preferences or strange mannerisms or wearing unusual clothes or not being athletically inclined--just about anything that sets us apart has served as the basis for marginalizing, bullying and ridiculing us.

Soooo... if, in fact, neurodivergent skiers are more prevalent in the ranks of the tele community, as anecdotal data and lived-experience seems to suggest, it stands to reason that this community of "knee dipping forest fairies" would be more likely to be bullied or otherwise diminished.

"NO ONE CARES THAT YOU TELE."

"Yeah, we know. But it feels really good to us, with all that repetitive motion and amplified sweet spot: soothing, liberating, transcendent, euphoric. So we'll be over there, out of the way, doing it over and over again, clocking a million turns every decade if we can."

To sum things up, the neurodivergent population is well-represented within the ranks of telemark, because the "free-heel" way checks a lot of boxes for us.

Repetitive motion, outdoor setting, engages our "hyper-focus," cultivates euphoric flow state, offers solitude and opportunity to be alone with our thoughts, satisfies need for special interest, and, finally, community with other like-minded pinheads (many of whom are similarly neurodivergent).

Which is to say, free heels are us and we are free heels, and our heels free us, and we free our heels, and on and on.

Don't just take my word for it.

Or do!

After all, you can trust me.

I TELE!

Alex 'telemón' Limkin

🌻🌈🪶🏞️🦆🦋🐾🐾

Alex "Tele" Limkin is a Taos-based freeheeler whose mantra is "get low not slow." He encourages everyone to give the soul turn a try, particularly sensory-seeking skiers who may be attracted to novelty and challenge and MOVEMENT, and aren't afraid to try something new.