Nick Martino

    Nick Martino was born and raised in the flatlands of Kansas.  At a very young age it was apparent that he sucked horribly at sports.  A chubby, asthmatic child that lived in a constant state of fear, his main priority was to avoid being hit by the ball.  Longing for a sense of identity, Nick soon turned to skateboarding; but an utter lack of coordination prevented him from landing a single trick on the skateboard.  Had his youth beheld the ability to cry out "Take!" or "Watch me here!" when faced with the obstacles of day-to-day life, one can only imagine what he might have achieved. Eventually, saving him from an existence highlighted by dreaded hair, Indian food, and drum circles, a good friend introduced him to rock climbing. 
   
    Within months Nick had sold everything he owned, bought a portaledge, and drove to California.  His first Yosemite climb was an epic eight-day ascent of El Cap's Nose.  Half way thru this mind blowing learning experience Nick's partners retreated, and the clueless yet persistent bumbler continued upward with new friends made en route.  In the vertical world of Yosemite Nick would find himself. If he was going to bumble thru life it seemed he was destined to do it high off the ground.
       
    Within the first year of Nick's climbing he made multiple one-day ascents of El Cap, and within three years he had linked the Nose with the NW Face of Half Dome in a 19-hour push.  Inspired by the dream of one day free climbing El Cap, Nick's motivation shifted from speed climbing to free climbing.  The ensuing years would see that dream realized with Nick making two all free ascents of the FreeRider VI 5.12d 37 pitches.  Nick also made a no falls free ascent of Moonlight Buttress, leading every pitch. He has redpointed over a dozen 5.13 traditional lines across the country, as well as onsighting Winner Takes All, a 5.13- finger crack at Indian Creek.  Nick established several speedy first ascents in the Bugaboos, including the first free ascents of two major aid lines on the South Howser Tower. He came heartbreakingly close to bagging the first one-day ascent of Pakistan's Trango Tower, sprinting to the summit ridge in 12 hours before retreating in a massive storm. 
   
    At 27 years old, Nick has spent most of the last 7 years living in a truck and sporting bad haircuts.  His current focus is to free climb more routes on El Cap, and he is ultimately inspired by climbing, in good style, on the remote alpine walls of the world. 

Nick's shoes:
Big Stone - Vision V's
Little Stones - Boosters