Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Ranelli.

Hi Nick , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I began climbing in 2016, at first casually for fun, but it quickly became an obsession. As I started going to the gym more and more, I learned about the sport of climbing instead of just casually climbing. I was entranced by the idea of climbing competitions from the start and dove in headfirst, joining the competitive climbing team at Doylestown Rock Gym.

As time went on, my passion for the sport only grew deeper and deeper, showing me what I knew back then would become the rest of my life and what has become my life today. My passion for climbing goes deeper than just the aspects of the sport itself. The sport of climbing got me through the darkest and most brutal points in my life, adding immense gratitude for climbing and the passion I developed for the sport.

For a while, I dealt with depression and addiction, and due to this, I learned regarding my early childhood. Climbing became the vehicle I used to save myself from these issues of depression and addiction. I cannot begin to fathom how horrible my life would be if I didn’t save myself the way I did through climbing. I’m incredibly grateful for the experience with depression and addiction I had, as it has only made me strong and was a crucial period in getting me to where I am today. I don’t consider the experience a tragedy; I think it is an experience of triumph.

After defeating depression and addiction, I vowed to myself that I would lead a life opposite to the darkness I had engulfed myself in. I would lead a life filled with light. Climbing again became the vehicle in which I achieved this by being the most successful athlete and the best coach I could be.

I emit this light through my brand, Primal, through my coaching programs and athletic journey. I’m proud to say that I have fulfilled the vow I initially set for myself and am in the next part of my journey—fulfilling my vow to become the best version of myself. Now that I am the best version of myself, I want to push myself beyond the limits I previously believed I could and inspire everyone around me to do the same through the Primal brand.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

As I previously stated, I dealt with depression and addiction related to aspects of my childhood. It is an experience that shaped my future tremendously and is one I am grateful for. The sport of climbing was the vehicle I used to overcome these obstacles.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

Primal Movement Fitness is an organization that provides inspiration, empowerment, and guidance to climbers through our coaching programs and media. Our mission is to show the climbing community that our values make all their dream achievements possible. We also aim to raise the bar of education in coaching climbing plus training for climbing, becoming some of the nation’s most respected coaches. Our vision is to help climbers become the best versions of themselves through our holistic coaching approach that instills our core values: Community, Discipline, Hard Work, Integrity, and passion.

Our coaching programs come in various forms to maximize accessibility to all kinds of climbers, offering both virtual and in-person programs and clinics. We are also developing online classes to increase accessibility further. All of which you can read about on our website: www.primalmovementfitness.com

As the founder, I am most proud of the culture we have developed within Primal. Our culture also separates us from other coaching programs in the climbing industry. Our culture is rooted in applying our core values of community, discipline, hard work, integrity, and passion to all aspects of our lives beyond climbing. Allowing ourselves the clarity to understand what characteristics and core values the best version of ourselves emulates every day has created an empowering and exciting culture to be a part of.

We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?

We don’t rise to the standards we have when others are watching.

We fall to the standards we have when no one is watching.

The only work that really matters is the work that no one sees.

It shows you who you really are rather than who you say you are.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.primalmovementfitness.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nick_ranelli
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Primalclimbing

Image Credits

Dani Garr, Andrew Keyes