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- I love absolutely everything about water skiing.
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My name is Grace Petzold and I'm 18 years old.
I'm the founder of Graceful Wakes
and I compete with the Rock Aqua Jay Water Ski Show Team
and the USA Water Ski Show team.
I love the idea of performing in front of people
and getting to put on a show.
[applause]
- Announcer: How about a nice hand for Grace.
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- Once Grace started water skiing,
I remember Dennis, a friend of ours,
came up to me and said, "So do you water ski?"
I'm like, "No."
My name is Wendy and I'm Grace's mom.
- If I were to describe my mom,
I would definitely say she's a fighter.
She's been through a lot in her life
but she's shown me
that she has the strength necessary to keep pushing
through all the obstacles she's been through.
- It was two days before my 17th birthday
that I was injured in a car accident
that damaged my spinal cord resulting in my paralysis.
- Being able to ski with her, that was something
I never thought I'd be able to do.
- Grace and I and our family had the opportunity
to participate in an adaptive clinic in Florida.
It was a feeling of freedom and something so different
than what I had ever experienced before.
To be out of your wheelchair and gliding across the water.
It was just an amazing feeling.
- So that was like one of the highlights of my life.
Being able to share something that I love so much
and be able to participate in it with my mom.
After that experience,
I realized that I wanted to provide that same opportunity
and ability to water ski to other individuals
with physical and cognitive disabilities.
And so therefore, with the help from my parents,
we founded the non-profit organization Graceful Wakes.
- Ready? One, two, three. [click]
- Traditional water skis do not really necessarily fit
the abilities of every skier.
- The adaptive water ski is different than the traditional water ski
and also costs a lot more.
- A ski that essentially has a little sling or seat
that the participant can sit in if they can't stand.
And the rope can, kind of, be hooked up to the ski too
so if the person is unable to hold a rope,
the ski can essentially hold it for them.
We can find an adaptation for anyone,
no matter their ability.
- It's like you're flying.
I never thought I would water ski again
after my accident but this is amazing.
- Then these things adjust down here so put your leg here.
- Sure.
- Perfect.
- This ski helps many people be able to learn how to ski
and have the ability to water ski.
When an adaptive water skier tries water skiing
for the first time,
it's just the joy and smiles that come across their face.
Melts my heart, kind of,
and makes all the hard work worth it.
- Grace has seen a pattern in our family's life of giving back.
We believe in giving back to the community
and supporting the community.
I also think that having a mother with a disability
helped to make her in tune to the needs of other people
and to look beyond herself.
That the world doesn't revolve around her
and that there are others that need help.
- I would say you're never too young
to make a change in the world.
That if you work hard at it
and dedicate a lot of your time and energy to it,
that you can pretty much accomplish anything.
Even a small act of kindness can really make someone's day
or change their day and just better the world.