4 minute read
Breaking Barriers On The Water
Zach Wood
Zach Wood is a public information officer in the DNR’s Office of Communications.
From the thrilling feeling of zipping across the water to the challenge of learning new moves, Grace Petzold had always been enthralled with waterskiing.
“I grew up skiing on Boom Lake in Rhinelander in the summers and started skiing a competitive team in middle school. For as long as I can remember, waterskiing has always been a huge part of my life,” she said.
Her love of the sport grew even deeper after a trip to Florida in 2014. There, Petzold was able to ski with her mother, Wendy, who has been paralyzed since high school, for the first time thanks to an adaptive water ski. The extra-wide ski had special equipment allowing someone to ski in a seated position.
“That was something I never thought I'd get to do,” Petzold said. “It meant so much to me to share that moment with her. After that, I just knew I wanted to find a way to make that feeling available to more people.”
Less than a year later, Grace and her parents founded Graceful Wakes, a nonprofit dedicated to providing adaptive waterskiing opportunities to people with disabilities.
Based in Mequon, the organization hosted its first event in the summer of 2016. As interest has grown, the group has offered more clinics around the state each summer since, often in partnership with local ski clubs.
JOY ON THE WATER
Graceful Wakes events typically are capped at 30-40 participants to ensure everyone gets multiple runs on the water.
“We want to ensure all our attendees have a great and memorable time,” Petzold said. “The best part is seeing the smiles and the laughter while on the water.”
Petzold also makes a point of inviting participants’ families to the clinics.
“We really try to make this a memorable day for the whole family,” she said.
These events are certainly memorable for Stacey Franzmeier, whose daughter, Ashlyn, has attended multiple events in Rhinelander.
“These events have become the highlights of our summers. It really is a full family day,” she said. “We all get to see Ashlyn ride on the adaptive ski, which is wonderful on its own, and they have pontoon rides and inner tubing for the families.
“Everyone goes home happy — and tired.”
FREEDOM TO SKI
Hosting each event is no small feat. It typically involves as many as 30 volunteers tackling tasks ranging from side-skiing (skiing on either side of the adaptive ski to provide support) to driving the boats and more.
“There are a lot of moving parts involved in putting one of our clinics together,” Petzold said. “But it's always so worth it to see the smiles on the faces of participants and hear the feedback from parents and relatives.”
Petzold recalled the reaction of one woman whose 10-year-old son participated in a clinic despite being so afraid of the water that he hated bath time and would walk out of his way to avoid puddles.
That was until he saw a local ski show and immediately told his mother he wanted to do that someday. Although encouraged by the boy's enthusiasm, her heart ached as she thought he'd never be able to waterski due to his disability.
“That’s one of those stories that will stay with me forever,” Petzold said. “His mother ran up to me after the day's events and told me, through tears, that he was smiling throughout the day (of the clinic) and that Graceful Wakes made a dream come true for him, and her.”
Believing that waterskiing can offer a sense of freedom for people, Petzold relishes her small role in bringing the activity to those who otherwise might not experience it.
“It is so rewarding to provide that freedom for people,” she said, “even if just for the day.”
For information about Graceful Wakes, including details on future clinics, follow the group’s Facebook page — facebook.com/gracefulwakes — or email Grace Petzold at Grace@gracefulwakes.com.
