Riding the course: Dalton native transforms injury into inspiration on journey to Winter X Games

Published 12:53 pm Tuesday, January 22, 2019

DALTON, Ga. — Will Posey lay in a hospital bed on Jan. 25, 2018, not knowing what the future would hold. Exactly one year later this Friday night, Posey will go to bed at peace, mixed with a little bit of happy nerves, awaiting possibly the most exciting day of his life.

Posey, 28, is slated to compete at the Winter X Games this Saturday in Aspen, Colorado. Growing up a dirt bike rider, which took the Dalton native around the country and led him to a professional status, Posey will race in his first-ever snow event as one of eight riders in the Para Snow BikeCross.

The event will be begin at 12:15 p.m. MST — 2:15 p.m. EST. Posey will race in a qualifier and then for a chance at a gold medal. The Winter X Games will be broadcast on ABC.

Over the course of this past year, Posey went through an intense journey of physical therapy, surgeries and turmoil, ultimately ending in a complete loss of function in both his legs. The original diagnosis was a broken vertebrae, the T3 bone, in his upper spine. He was determined to walk again, but it just never happened.

“I remember going through the turn and then I was laying there looking up at the sky,” Posey recalls of his biking accident. “I was in and out, and then I was in an ambulance.”

Posey’s father, Billy, who has been with his son through every race and previous injury, knew it was serious.

“He just kept saying, ‘Dad, something is sticking me in my back,’” Billy Posey said. “I knew he had broken it because I had broken mine before.”

Through all of the doctor’s appointments and rehabilitation, there came a point when Posey snapped. He couldn’t take the pressure anymore. He had been so positive for so long, and he had heard some news that was heartbreaking.

Posey had a significant amount of fluid accumulating in his spinal cord, causing it to swell and his recovery process to slow quite a bit.

Since the day of the accident, all Posey wanted to do was get on his bike again. So that very same day, he headed to the track and rode for the first time in eight months.

“It kind of all happened at once,” Posey said. “I remember talking about it when I was still in the hospital. I’m not someone that just sits around. Motorcycles have always been my thing, and after that doctor’s appointment I needed to ride.”

The video of Posey getting back on a bike showed a slow but steady movement, something he hadn’t experienced in a long time. He admits his balance was off, but he did it. He made his way around the track.

What came next surprised even Posey, the strong-willed fighter.

The video of his ride was spread across multiple social media platforms including Instagram and Facebook. 

“I’m sure if you added up all the views from the multiple shares, it would be like a million plus,” he said. “It was crazy how people started to reach out to me and tell me what an inspiration I was. I realized I had the reach I had, and it was so cool to be able to help someone through their day even when I was having a bad day.”

Less than a month later in early October, Posey was invited to participate as one in the first group of adaptive riders in the Winter X Games’ history. He’ll be the first competitor in the Winter X Games from the state of Georgia.

“I didn’t think anything about it, I just said yes,” he said.

Posey and his father left in early December to the mountains where he learned to ride in the snow and trained for his event. He transformed a dirt bike into not only something that would be functional, but also protective. 

The machine looks like a dirt bike and a sled combined, with the wheels removed and replaced with flat, sliding components. It has straps that keep his legs in place.

A year later, Posey said he is still dealing with a few complications from the injury. He said he feels dizziness at times and is still learning how to maneuver as a paraplegic.

His strength, Billy Posey said, is immeasurable. 

“He was raised to never give up,” Bill Posey said. “From a young age, I taught him that second place is the first loser. I was so proud to see him get back on the bike.”

Posey said to think about how much has changed in a year is unbelievable. 

“To get the invite is amazing in itself, but my goal is obviously to win gold,” he said. “I’m putting forth everything to make that happen. It’s a huge comeback for me and reminds me that I should never give up.”

Along with his father, Posey wishes to thank his sponsors for their support — Japco Machinery, Vision Contractors, ATL Camera Co., Performance Cycle, GoPro, Ride 100%, Guts Racing, Fly Racing, Moto Paint, TCX Boots USA, NoToil Industries, RaceTech, MCN Motorworks, Backyard Designs, Statik MFG, Sand Mountain Mx, Bell Ray, Bell Helmets, Acerbis, Dunlop, Dubya, Rekluse, Westfall Realestate Group, Dad, I Access and Tokyo Mods.