Posted Friday, August 14, 2009 at 4:20 p.m. ----

Teens with disabilities are getting the chance of a lifetime! As NBC 15's Michelle Riell reports, they're teaming up with the Mad City Ski Team and getting the chance to water ski.

Ask any of the Mad City Skiers and they'll tell you, "I love, just kind of the rush of skiing." Now Brea Imse and her teammates are sharing that rush with teens who are a part of the United Cerebral Palsy of Dane County, kids who otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity to experience the rush. Andrea Spiel, a coordinator with UCP of Dane County says, "We work with wide variety of young kiddos, ranging from some who have autism, some have down syndrome, some have cerebral palsy."

To help the teens ski, they first get them comfortable in the choppy lake water. Then they get into a special ski that allows them to be safely pulled behind the boat. Once they're out of the no wake zone, it's ear to ear smiles!

Instructors follow along on jet skis and in the water to make sure the skiers are safe and comfortable. Imse says, "We take them for a figure 8 loop, so they can go all the way out, so they can go outside the wake if they want."

Once they're back to shore, Imse says, "A lot of their reactions once they get out the water are like, wow that's the coolest thing I've ever done! They come running back to the shore, they're high 5-ing people." Celebrating an opportunity to do something they aren't able to do on their own. Spiel says, "It enables them to have the ability to be out in the community, try different things, try new experiences."

When asked, 14 year old Jason Lichefess says, "Was it fun? Yeah!"

The Mad City Skiers have been volunteering their time for a few years helping teens with UCP of Dane County. And as a reminder, the Mad City Ski team performs every Sunday through Labor day, for free, in front of the Monona Terrace.

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Posted Friday, August 14, 2009 at 1:40 p.m. ----

The Mad City Ski Team is volunteering their time to help teens in Dane County with disabilities.

They spent Friday getting kids out on the water, something many of the kids living with autism, Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities would not be able to do on their own.

The kids enjoyed being out on the water and came back to shore with big smiles.

The kids are all a part of UCP Dane County.

For more information go to www.ucpdane.org.

Watch for this story tonight on NBC15 News at 6:00 p.m.