Meet Ryan Moreno | Pickleball Enthusiasts and Oncology Research Scientist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan Moreno and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
When we embarked on the journey of starting our own business in the pickleball industry, our thought process was driven by a combination of passion, a desire for self-expression, and the identification within the market of a lack of individuality. As avid pickleball enthusiasts ourselves, we noticed a lack of options for players who wanted to bring their creativity and personal style to the court.

Our primary motivation was to create a pickleball brand and paddle line that would resonate with people who shared our interests and passions. We firmly believed that pickleball players deserved a chance to express themselves and stand out from the crowd, rather than conforming to the standard paddles and pickleball gear available in the market.

By starting our own business, we aimed to fill this gap by offering unique and customized paddle designs that catered to the diverse tastes and preferences of players. Our intention was not only to provide high-quality paddles but also to empower individuals to showcase their personality and flair through their equipment.

Through extensive research and analysis, we discovered that there was a demand for specialized paddle options that combined performance, durability, and style. This further fueled our belief that our venture could thrive and succeed in meeting the needs of discerning pickleball players.

In summary, our thought process behind starting our own pickleball brand and paddle business was driven by a shared passion for the sport, a desire to enable self-expression on the court, and the identification for creativity in a thriving market. We aimed to offer unique, high-quality paddle designs that would resonate with pickleball enthusiasts and empower them to stand out while enjoying their game.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We look at the comparison of pickleball to tennis as the equivalent of what snowboarding is to skiing. The culture of snowboarding or skateboarding was a big part of how we want Grip and Rip to develop. There are already large companies out there in the space who want to be the Nike or Adidas of the pickleball community and we need that. However, we want to be that alternative brand that can fill the needs of those who want something different.

Growing up and enjoying the art and artists that helped collaborate on skate decks was a huge inspiration for what we are most excited for in the future. As we look for artists to collaborate on artist series paddles we will only release limited quantities of these paddles to make each one special yet functional. We aren’t here to become millionaires and would rather put out something unique that means something compared to the unending generic stuff the other companies put out.

Our journey has just begun and the problems will likely come with time. This passion project is completely funded out of our own pockets which makes this operation miniscule compared to other companies. We try not to let what other people are doing worry us and we are just enjoying the ride. Hopefully those who see our vision and like what we are putting out will come along with us.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My girlfriend and I love our food and drinks! We have a shared note in our phone of all the places we want to visit, the activates we want to do, and the places we want to eat and drink at.

1. The very first item on the itinerary is Flagstaff, Arizona, both in the winter and in the summer! Andrew and I, along with 99% of our close friends from elementary school and high school went to Northern Arizona University for our undergraduate degrees. It is hard to put in words how amazing this place is but it will always be our second home. From snowboarding, to the breweries, the people, the pinecone dropping instead of the ball for the New Year Eve, and the forests. Flagstaff has everything you could possibly want in a small little mountain town.

2. Second on the list are a list of bars that are so incredibly unique but provide amazing service and drinks that I have never had outside of these bars. The list is Angel’s Trumpet, The Pemberton, 36 Below, BARCOA Agaveria, and Platform 18. The are all 1 of 1 and are go to’s for anyone coming to Phoenix.

3. Third on the list are a list of the best food places I have been to. This will cover all types of food all over the valley. For some of the best food we go to Chou’s Kitchen in Tempe, Manna Shabu bbq in Peoria and Mesa, Junn Sushi in Tempe, Chelsea’s Kitchen in Phoenix, Alma Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Cibo Pizzeria in Phoenix, and Joyride Taco House in Phoenix.

4. The final item on our itinerary are the activates to do. These certainly do not cover everything that Arizona has to offer, but these are my favorite! This list consists of, the music scene throughout Tempe, Mesa, and downtown Phoenix, kayaking/tubing the salt river, visiting Sedona, Flagstaff, and the Grand Canyon, play pickleball, golf, and finally, first Friday in downtown Phoenix and or downtown Flagstaff.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Nothing that was every accomplished was done alone. Many people play roles throughout your life whether it be small or large that help mold who you are and influence the decisions you make. In reflecting upon the journey of our pickleball brand/paddle business, we are deeply grateful for the efforts, support, and inspiration provided by various individuals and groups who have played a significant role in our success.

First and foremost, we want to dedicate a shoutout to the pickleball community itself. The passion, enthusiasm, and camaraderie exhibited by fellow pickleball players have been a driving force behind our endeavor. Their love for the sport and their desire to express themselves on the court served as a constant reminder of the need for innovative and personalized paddle options.

For Ryan:

I would like to dedicate a heartfelt shoutout to my mom, dad, and my girlfriend, Julie, as they have been instrumental in my personal and entrepreneurial journey. Their unwavering support, love, and encouragement have been the driving force behind my success with our company. To my mom and dad, thank you for instilling in me the values of hard work and resilience. Your belief in me is at times more than my belief in myself and constant words of encouragement have given me the confidence to pursue my passions. Your sacrifices and guidance have shaped me into the person I am today. To my significant other, your unwavering belief in me and your unconditional support have been my greatest source of strength. Your encouragement, patience, and understanding have helped me navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. Your presence by my side has made the journey more meaningful and rewarding. I am forever grateful to these three remarkable individuals for everything they have done to make me who I am. They have played a pivotal role in my pursuit of building a pickleball brand that allows individuals to express themselves on the court. This shoutout is dedicated to them for being the backbone behind this all and contributing to my growth and success.

My final shoutout will be to Dr. Nathan Nieto, one of my graduate school committee members who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2019. I learned so much from him, from being a better person to staying positive through everything, and how to become an exceptional scientist. A world renown tick and disease ecology expert, Dr. Nieto was the scientist I wanted to become. He lived life the way he wanted, worked his dream job in one of his dream locations, with his wonderful wife and dogs and took full advantage of it. I am happy to have had him for guidance throughout my graduate degree, but I am thankful to have had him as a friend. I know he is enjoying an IPA somewhere on the water.

For Andrew:

First of all I’d like to thank my wife Cassy for encouraging me to pursue this passion of mine. She works full time as a nurse, operates her own photography business and holds down the home front with our two daughters. I like to think of myself as a dreamer and an “idea guy”. However, those ideas may be less than stellar at times. This idea to start Grip and Rip Pickleball with a vision and aesthetic which resonates with myself was one of the first ideas that I was unanimously encouraged to pursue by my wife and my friends.

Speaking of friends, we have a solid group of friends that we’ve made over the years and the majority of them have been with me since we were kids growing up here in the valley. We do everything together and encourage each other to pursue the most in life. We may treat each other like brothers or sisters for better or worse but in the end it’s all love and I wouldn’t be here without their support.

My family has always been there for me and supported me in everything I have ever done. I know I can count on them to be there throughout this journey whether it is sharing a new social media post or helping watch my kids if I need to go on a meeting while Cassy is working.

I’m a Physical Therapist by profession and my boss, Doug Howard, is a massive inspiration to me when it comes to professional goals and work ethic. He has helped to build one of the most successful networks of physical therapy clinics in Arizona and has been a mentor to help guide me as a therapist and with life itself. You need people in your corner who have done things you could only dream of doing one day and he has done it all. He has always been there to push me forward in my career development and my mindset development which I use in all facets of my life. Many of the lessons he has taught me and continues to teach me will forever be valuable.

The book The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma was given to me by Doug as part of a book club we did and it was a real game changer for me. I took it pretty literally and have been waking up early to do my training in the gym and start my day off early. It has helped to lay down a foundation to make my busy day more manageable. It has also allowed for me to free up my evenings to have more family or pickleball time.

Website: https://gripandrippb.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gripandrip_pb/?hl=en

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ ryan-moreno-20266a1a6

Image Credits
Andrew Yanes Ryan Moreno Christian Ortiz