Climber Story: Nick Ranelli

To start, tell us a little bit about yourself 

Hey, I'm Nick! I am 23 years old. I work as a climbing coach, and I own the climbing coaching company known as Primal Movement Fitness.

How did you start climbing?

One day I just randomly walked into Doylestown Rock Gym near Philadelphia. I pretty much fell in love instantly!

What impact has climbing had on your life?

It's hard to put into words the enormous impact climbing has had on my life. Climbing helped me get through a tough period and has since then given me a purpose in life that I am grateful for and passionate about.

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

Pushing myself as an athlete and mentoring others as a coach are the most fulfilling parts of my life. Beyond that, spending time in nature and with those closest to me is all I want to do.

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

Your self-worth is not determined by the hand you’re dealt. You’re defined by how you play the cards.

Favorite thing about Dynamite Starfish?

The creativity! I love seeing people explore their own personal creativity.

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

Hahaha so many things I could say here. One of the biggest things I would like to mention are Primal University and a film project centered around some of my outdoor projects.

Primal University is the newest coaching service my brand will be offering. The idea is centered around making high-level coaching accessible to all because we all know that sometimes coaching can get really expensive. We also want to continue fostering the climbing community. Primal University will be a series of interactive online classes hosted by myself. We’ll all work together to get better at our favorite sport 😄

The film project I referenced is staying mostly under wraps for now. However, I want this project to inspire climbers. The biggest spoiler I will give is that I am pushing myself past what I believe I am capable of as a climber. Stay tuned!

You can find Nick on Instagram at @nick_ranelli or his website Primal Movement Fitness.

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!