Joseph N. Martinez, Marines, Corporal (ret)​

Joe “Lefty” Martinez was born & raised in Michigan. His grandparents were avid motorcyclists and as a kid, he rode many miles on the back of a bike.  He learned to ride his own bike at a very early age and has never stopped. A gifted athlete throughout his school years, he started on the varsity football and wrestling teams, as a freshman.

Joe joined the Marines in 1993 serving until May 1997 as a 1345 Engineer. On April 19 1995,  Joe’s life changed forever, he had been involved in a motorcycle accident resulting in the amputation of his left arm.   Joe was in and out of the hospital for more than a year.  This was the beginning of a life experience that made him who he is today. 

Joe believes, at the core, all challenge is mental.  “Challenge in life is something we all face and comes disguised in many forms. I realized everything happens for a reason... That with all experiences viewed as negative, positive experience is waiting to be found. How we view it will determine where we go with it....
Our mind does more than the rest of our body parts combined!”

Joe spent 20 years as a successful,  professional backcountry snowmobile guide. Taking clients thorough the rugged backcountry in Wyoming.  Joe started the non-profit Ascend Empowerment  using his experience to help others facing crisis, to see the positives. His goal is to speed the mental thus physical recovery, and push those beyond what they thought possible. 

With 21 years of experience Joe said, “I aim to inspire others to truly keep their head up, realizing where the head goes the body will follow.  To show, that limitations are others' way to protect us, but actually just hold us back... Setting a negative, go nowhere vibe on our situations.”​

Lefty now lives in the Salt Lake City area with his beautiful partner Holli Michelle Lane-Martinez and rides his Beta Cross-trainer 300 Enduro on the wild single tracks found in Utah.