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Climbing Coach l Nick, SSC CNS

@nick_ranelli

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🏆Performance • Character • Community
🔥I help climbers break plateaus and reach their potential
🌎200+ Climbers Coached Worldwide
👇🏼DM “COACH” to apply

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PRE-SEASON BOULDERING CAMP 2026

One month away from Primal’s 5th annual training camp!

Built for youth competitors U13 and older, this two-day intensive is designed to prepare athletes for the demands of the 2026/27 competition season.

Athletes will participate in:
🔥 Mock Competition Rounds
🔥 Movement Workshops
🔥 Competition Mindset & Tactical Development Sessions

By the end of the weekend, athletes will have:
🔥Deeper understanding of competition movement
🔥 Experience under realistic competition pressure
🔥 Personalized feedback on performance and training
🔥Confidence before the first USAC event

🗓️ August 29-30 (Saturday & Sunday)
📍 Tufas Boulder Lounge
⏰ 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Train alongside motivated competitors and gain the experience, confidence, and preparation needed to start the season strong.

Spots are limited to ensure a high-quality training environment.

REGISTRATION IS LIVE — LINK IN BIO taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @nick_ranelli

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3 months ago

Most climbers train harder when they stall.

They add finger training.
They add power.
They add volume.

But effort usually isn’t the issue.

Misdiagnosis is.

If you don’t know:
🔹 Which movement principle breaks down first
🔹 What patterns show up under fatigue
🔹Whether the issue is positioning or tension
🔹 How your decisions change under pressure

—you’re guessing.

Primal coaching always starts with diagnosis, not programming.

That’s why I built the PMF Movement Self-Assessment.

It’s a tool to help you identify why you’re falling and what type of work would actually matter next.

No drills.
No workouts.
No quick fixes.

If you want clarity instead of guessing, it’s in my bio. taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @nick_ranelli

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8 months ago

WELCOME TO PRIMAL MOVEMENT FITNESS

Recently I made a big decision to leave Goat Climbing Gym to focus solely on my business; Primal Movement Fitness.

It’s a scary decision going all in on my own business.

However, I always preach that apart of growth comes from embracing discomfort and taking risks.

I started this business roughly three years ago as a way of to grow myself as a coach.

I realized the impact I can create is too big for me to shy away from going all in.

I owe it to myself, the people close to me, all of my athletes, and to this sport to give everything I have.

So nice to meet you…

My name is Nick Ranelli and I am the founder of Primal Movement Fitness.

🔹My mission is to help climbers become the best versions of themselves and ensure that all of their dream achievements are possible. I aim to give back to the climbing community by raising the bar in training and coaching.🔹

I’ve been in the world of climbing for almost a decade now, coaching for five years now.

Competing, climbing outside, studying, and learning have prepared me for this part of my journey…

Go swipe through to get a quick sense of what I do and how to best connect with me!

Here’s a hint: commenting your questions may or may not be an easy way to connect🤫 taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @nick_ranelli

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3 years ago

I’m moving to Salt Lake City!!!

I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to leave PA and live out west. The cards have finally aligned for me to make that jump.

All I’ve ever wanted to do is make a positive impact on the people around me. It’s why I became a coach: to help people become better versions of themselves. I’m proud of what has been accomplished in my time here.

Here are some of my favorite memories from the archives over the last few years:

Slide 1: Setting from the most recent Pre-Season Camp
Slide 2: Psicobloc in Brooklyn
Slide 3: Establishing The Apex Predator V13
Slide 4: @emma_climbs_ making me try cheesecake
Slide 5: Establishing Avalanche V10
Slide 6: Dream team coaching staff
Slide 7: @hugo.d.ramey doing all the work for the team photo
Slide 8: The Carnivore Cave Premiere
Slide 9: @maya.x.climbs first nationals podium
Slide 10: Red Rocks from a few years ago

It’s bittersweet. I’m definitely going to miss Philly and all of the awesome people I love here, but I am also super stoked for this next chapter! taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @nick_ranelli

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7 days ago

Took a random side quest to the NRG this weekend.

Quick send of 1,2 Punch V7✅

Also ticked off Black Lite V8 shortly after. taken in Fayetteville, West Virginia by @nick_ranelli

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19 days ago

Gustav reached out to me because he wanted to perform better in competitions and become a better climber overall.

After his initial assessment, a few things became clear to me:

His training lacked structure and intention.
He needed to develop a better understanding of movement.

So we built his coaching around addressing both.

🔥 His training cycles gave every session a purpose—from what we trained and why, to when we recovered.

🔥 Our in-person sessions developed his understanding of movement across different climbing styles—helping him recognize positions, make better decisions, and adapt to unfamiliar problems.

And the results started showing up everywhere.
🔥 Better competition performances.
🔥 Greater technical ability.
🔥 His first V10.

Gustav didn’t need one magic exercise or training method.

He needed to understand what was limiting his performance and train those limitations with intention.

🔥 Performance is a system. Long-term progress requires developing the physical, technical, and psychological attributes that are actually limiting you.

For Gustav, that meant developing the physical and technical pieces together.

Right now, I’m looking for ambitious climbers who want to understand their performance, address what’s holding them back, and discover what they’re capable of.

Applications for 1-on-1 coaching are now open.
🔥 Link in bio to apply. taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @nick_ranelli

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a month ago

STOP IGNORING YOUR FEET

Most climbers obsess over finger strength while completely neglecting the thing that actually keeps them on the wall:

Foot tension.

🔥The biggest reason climbers cut feet is because they aren’t actively applying tension into footholds.

Luckily, this is fixable once you change the way you think about your lower body.

Here’s the 🔑 concept to understand👇🏼

🔥Your feet can grip holds the same way your hands grip holds.

Your toes, heels, and ankles flex into footholds to create tension through the calves.

Your hamstrings and glutes pull your hips into the wall so you can move with control instead of fighting swings every move.

1️⃣Flex your toes and ankles into the foothold
2️⃣Engage the calves and actively ‘grab’ the foothold
3️⃣Engage your hamstrings and glutes, pull your hips into the wall, and move with control

This changes everything.

🔥Your feet are hands
🔥Your legs are arms

Practice this during your warm-up and on your projects until generating tension becomes automatic.

Then watch how much more controlled your climbing feels.

If you want to improve movement instead of only chasing strength, remote coaching spots are open.

Only 6 coaching spots remain.

🔥Personalized Training Programs & Direct Mentorship
🔥Structured Skill Practice
🔥Periodized Strength Training

Comment “COACH” and I’ll send the application link. taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @nick_ranelli

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a month ago

THE SECRET TO POGOS

If pogos feel impossible for you, it’s because your timing is off.

Typically, the issue lies in the climber’s timing and direction of movement.

Here’s the breakdown👇🏼

1️⃣Perspective (Most climbers get this wrong)

A pogo isn’t for power; it’s for assistance.

The momentum generated from the pogo reduces the power requirement from your upper body and creates flow.

2️⃣Timing (The common problem)

* A pogo only helps if your pull matches it. Don’t let the momentum outrun your pull.

If you pull at the top, it’s too late.
If you pull too early, you lose the assist.

* Pull as your foot hits peak height.

3️⃣Direction

Where the foot goes, the body follows. In addition to properly timing the pogo, you need to kick towards the hold you’re going to.

* Kick through the hold, not just up.

4️⃣Mechanics

Stay tight through your core while letting the leg swing freely.

You’ll notice in the video that my pogo leg is mostly straight with some knee flexion, allowing a longer lever to create more momentum while maintaining tension.

Next time you’re working on a pogo, apply these adjustments and watch the magic happen!

Strong climbers miss pogos all the time; it’s a movement problem, not a strength problem.

If you want help training movement intentionally, remote coaching spots are available!

🔥Personalized Training Programs & Direct Mentorship
🔥Structured Skill Practice
🔥Periodized Strength Training
🔥In-Depth Mental Conditioning

Comment “COACH,” and I’ll send the link to apply! taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @nick_ranelli

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a month ago

Ro wanted to climb harder routes. But the answer wasn’t more route climbing.

When Roheem first reached out, he was projecting around 5.12c outside.

After his initial assessment, one of his biggest limitations became clear:

Individual moves near his limit were becoming a bottleneck.

So even though his primary goal was route climbing, we deliberately increased his exposure to hard bouldering.

By adding more intentional bouldering into his training, we:

🔥 Raised the difficulty of individual moves he could execute
🔥 Expanded his movement knowledge and climbing IQ
🔥 Built confidence operating near his physical limit

Since then: 5.12c → multiple 5.13s.

For Ro, becoming a better route climber meant embracing the lessons of a different discipline.

Better training isn’t always about doing more. It’s about identifying what’s actually limiting your performance.

If you’re training hard but your climbing still feels stuck, the answer might not be more effort. It might be identifying what’s actually limiting you.

That’s exactly what we do through 1-on-1 coaching.

Right now, I’m looking for ambitious climbers who want to understand their performance, address what’s holding them back, and discover what they’re capable of.

Applications for 1-on-1 coaching are now open.
🔥 Link in bio to apply. taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @nick_ranelli

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a month ago

LOWER BODY DRIVES UPPER BODY FUNCTION

Most climbers pull first and think later.

Another core movement principle I teach is
Lower Body Drives Upper Body Function.

Lower body engagement dictates balance, direction, and force transfer throughout the body.

We push and pull with our hands. But our feet can do the same thing.

They can push. They can pull. They can grab.
When they do, movement becomes efficient.

The cue: “Use your feet like hands and your legs like arms”.

In the video, I realized I was entering the ideal position to push and pull through my upper body, but I was relying too heavily on my upper-body strength.

Before: I was trying to muscle into the latch.
After: I drove through my left foot, which allowed my upper body to push and pull into position instead of forcing it.

Your lower body is a weapon. Use it.
Stop leaving it holstered.
This is what Positions > Power looks like.

We’re breaking this down at our Board Climbing 101 clinic at Tufas Boulder Lounge on Saturday, October 3rd.

If your feet are reacting instead of initiating, this clinic is for you.

Board climbing exposes whether your lower body is driving or reacting.

Movement multiplies strength.
Train it intentionally.

Link in bio to sign up.

Are your feet drivers or passengers? taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @nick_ranelli

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a month ago

On Wednesday, September 30th, we’re publicly releasing The Carnivore Cave on YouTube.

A climbing story of mentorship, persistence, and the pursuit of personal limits.

No highlight reel. Just an honest look at the process—the attempts, failures, breakthroughs, and everything in between.

Thank you to everyone who has supported this project. It’s been a memorable experience so far, and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.

Subscribe to the Primal YouTube channel and be there for the first release. taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @nick_ranelli

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a month ago

STOP LOSING SWINGS - DO THIS INSTEAD

Can’t control swings?

You’re over-relying on your fingers instead of body position.

This is the scorpion position👇🏼

🔹Feet drive behind you
🔹Chest drives forward
🔹Shoulder blades come together

This position makes you instantly stronger on the swing, every time.

You don’t control the swing after you catch it—you control it AS you catch it. Do this instead👇🏼

🔥As you go for the hold, pull your shoulder blades together and drive your chest forward.

Most climbers try to fight the swing.
The best climbers redirect it.

🔥Practice this on the wall by intentionally jumping between positive holds.

Practice👇🏼
🔹Jump between good holds
🔹Hit the scorpion position
🔹Lock it in AS you latch

Strength matters. Positions decide.

If you want to actually fix your movement—not just get stronger—comment “COACH,” and I’ll reach out with details on how to apply for remote coaching.

🔹Personalized Training Programs & Direct Mentorship
🔹Structured Skill Practice
🔹Periodized Strength Training
🔹In-Depth Mental Conditioning taken in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by @nick_ranelli

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a month ago