Climber Story: Anivey Casanada

To start, tell us a little bit about yourself

My name is Anivey and I’m 28 years old. I was born without fingers on my right hand, and I enjoy a good challenge despite my physical difference. I was a competitive dancer for 14 years, learned the saxophone, percussion, violin, and ukulele. I can type over 80WPM, love video games, played quarterback in my high school’s sugar bowl, and am now a passionate rock climber!

How did you start climbing?

My aunt and her husband have been avid climbers for the last 5 years. They took me climbing outdoors in Sawtooth Canyon about a year and a half ago, and I signed up for my first climbing gym not long after that!

What impact has climbing had on your life?

Climbing challenges me in a way I have never been challenged before. It really forces me to not compare myself or my progression to others, which is a horrible habit I developed after doing competition dance for so long. It makes me learn and push my body’s capabilities and my mind’s creative thinking in order to overcome problems that are heavily right-hand dependent; but at the same time, it’s taught me to have more patience with myself as I grow, especially if I can’t seem to figure out a climb that might be easier for others.

Ultimately, climbing has made a huge impact on the love, respect, and appreciation I have for myself, my body, and more specifically, my fingerless hand!

What are some other things you do that you find most fulfilling?

In addition to climbing, I love painting, drawing, reading, and spending time with my family and dogs! I LOVE dogs.

If you could tell the world one thing, what would it be?

Be proud of your differences! You will never stand out if you’re trying to be like everyone else.

Favorite thing about Dynamite Starfish?

I love how involved DS is with the climbing community, and how Leslie makes every interaction so personable!

Is there something you're working on that you'd like to tell our community about? We love a good story.

Well there are tons of things I’m working on in general, especially because I love a lot of things and have so many different hobbies! But I think a great thing to continue working on is connecting with other paraclimbers in the community or encourage more people with limb differences to give climbing a try.

I’m local to the Riverside County area in California, and both of the gyms here unfortunately do not have paraclimbing groups or coaches, and the people working there have told me they don’t know of any other paraclimbers that go to their gyms either. I’ve met a group of wonderful paraclimbers in San Diego, but I’d be so excited to see the paraclimbing community grow here too!

You can find Anivey on Instagram at @climbing.nemo.

Want to get to know more of the climbers in the amazing Dynamite Starfish community? Check out our archive of Climber Stories here.

We hope you have enjoyed these sneak peeks into climbers' lives. We're on a mission to share diverse stories about rock climbing. Let's push the boundaries of who we know as climbers. Let's use our energy and passion for the outdoors to love our environment and inspire one another.

Have someone you think we should feature? Send us a message and let us know!

Until next time!