From a young age, Ricky James was immersed in the world of sports, but it was two wheels that truly captured his heart. Starting with competitive BMX racing until age 11, he quickly transitioned to motocross, chasing a dream to become a professional racer. By 16, he had earned a coveted factory sponsorship from Honda and was competing at a national level.

In 2005, at just 16 years old, Ricky sustained a complete T-7 spinal cord injury while racing in Texas. Rather than letting the injury define him, he set out to redefine what was possible. With the help of his father and a close-knit crew of friends, he engineered an adaptive dirt bike outfitted with a custom seat, electronic shifting, hand back brake, and other modifications. What followed was nothing short of groundbreaking: he raced in the legendary Baja 500, competed at the X Games, and even landed backflips into foam pits—all as a paraplegic.

His passion for high-octane sports extended beyond motocross. He also competed in short-course off-road trucks and late model stock cars, using custom hand-control systems to stay behind the wheel.

In addition to his motor-driven achievements, Ricky became a 10-time Ironman finisher in the Handcycle division. His first Ironman was in Kona, Hawaii in 2008—just three years post-injury and at only 19 years old. Between 2012 and 2014, he completed 9 more Ironmans, culminating in a division win at the 2014 Ironman World Championship in Kona. Just one month later, he married his wife, Chelsea, and began the next chapter of his life.

Transitioning into his professional career, Ricky began in real estate as an assistant before earning his license and rising quickly in commercial real estate. Today, he specializes in industrial sales and leasing in North County San Diego. He and his wife live in Oceanside with their son, Brixton, and he remains deeply committed to being a positive role model, devoted husband, and inspiring presence in the community.

A longtime supporter of his journey, Spinergy has been by his side since 2005. Whether it was through wheelchair wheels, adaptive dirt bike support, or handcycle technology, their partnership has been vital to every chapter of his story—and he’s proud to not only represent their brand, but to call them friends.