Manon Hily and Trip Tik Tonik (9a): a project that blends commitment and performance

After *S’envoler*, Manon Hily returns in a second film focused on one of her most memorable projects: Trip Tik Tonik (9a). Co-directed with YY Vertical Alexis Provence, this new portrait delves into the heart of a more intimate process, where performance is built over time, through mental commitment, perseverance, and a deep connection to the cliff.

Through this project, the French climber shares a vision of climbing in which the result never fully captures the experience itself. Behind the grade lies, above all, a journey, doubts, repeated attempts, and a very personal way of building her progress.

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A landmark project in Manon Hily’s career

In a career already marked by top-level competition and several national titles, Trip Tik Tonik (9a) represents a special milestone for Manon Hily. More than just a difficult route, the project symbolizes a form of continuity in her evolution as a climber, where commitment to crag climbing is taking on an increasingly important role.

9a remains an iconic grade in climbing. It is a level that demands physical strength as well as technical precision, mental resilience, and consistent effort. Behind the final achievement often lies a long process, built on dozens of sessions, adjustments, and self-reflection. Manon has already completed two 9a routes, both of which she later downgraded, so she wanted to tackle a “true” 9a—one that would have little chance of being downgraded.

In the film, the project comes across less as a quest for results and more as a comprehensive, long-term endeavor.

Trip Tik Tonik: A Route with a History

Trip Tik Tonik wouldn't be what it is today without Cédric Lo Piccolo. He was the one who equipped it in 2004, in the Gorges du Loup—one of his first projects. At the time, he thought it would be an 8b. The route turned out to be much harder, and was eventually rated 8c+ (for experienced climbers).

One of the highlights of this film is Cédric’s perspective, told in parallel with Manon’s story. To make the route climbable, Cédric added two Sika holds, creating two artificial holds where the rock wasn’t sufficient. In 2010, the first break occurred during a climb by Guillaume Lebret. This break reignited the question: is the route feasible in its natural state? Guillaume believes so. Cédric then decided to break the second lip himself, restoring TTT to its entirely natural state—and likely increasing its difficulty in the process.

This is the route, in this condition, that Manon found when she arrived at the Gorges du Loup. And there was an added surprise: the crux she had spotted online—a dynamic move on a pillar—had also disappeared; the hold had broken a few weeks before her first attempt. She had to figure out the move all over again, and it was finally by planting a knee that she found the solution.

The conversation between Manon and Cédric after the climb is one of the film’s most compelling moments. Two generations, two perspectives on the same route—and a broader reflection on the evolution of climbing gear. Knee pads, technical climbing shoes, new methods: tools that open up possibilities, but also raise the question of how they change the way a route is read and its difficulty.

A special connection to performance

With Manon Hily, performance never seems to be separated from emotion. The goal is there, of course, but it’s always accompanied by a broader reflection on how to climb, how to improve, and how to experience the project.

This approach is reflected in the way she has approached elite-level competition for years. Performance becomes a driving force, a framework that encourages her to push her limits, without, however, defining the entire practice. What stands out above all is the importance she places on personal commitment: being fully invested in what one undertakes, accepting moments of doubt, and pressing on despite them.

The film also shows just how central the mental aspect is to this kind of project. On the cliff face, nothing comes easily. You have to learn to start over, try again, and adjust—sometimes for a long time.

Building a long-term project

A project like Trip Tik Tonik isn't built in just a few attempts. It takes time, patience, and the ability to accept that progress can sometimes be uneven.

Some sessions allow you to make rapid progress. Others feel like you’re taking a step backward. This back-and-forth is an integral part of the process. The challenge isn’t just physical: you also have to maintain your enthusiasm, motivation, and clarity of mind over the long term.

In the film, this sense of time plays a significant role. It becomes clear that ultimate success does not erase moments of doubt or frustration. On the contrary, it is often these moments that give meaning to the entire project.

This approach also highlights a reality of high-level climbing: learning to cope with uncertainty and accepting that progress is never entirely linear.

The cliff as a space for expression

For several years now, bouldering has played a central role in Manon Hily’s practice. She finds it offers something different from competition: a freer relationship with time, movement, and the environment.

Whereas competition imposes a specific and immediate framework, the crag leaves more room for exploration, intuition, and personal interpretation of the climb. Each route becomes an experience in its own right.

In Trip Tik Tonik, this relationship with the rock is a constant presence. The performance remains central, but it is part of something broader: a search for sensations, balance, and a connection with the environment.

This aspect also explains why certain projects have a lasting impact on a career, regardless of the mere number associated with the route.

The Importance of Support Networks in High-Stakes Projects

Even in an individual sport, a project like this is never built entirely on one’s own. The support network plays a vital role, both during periods of progress and during more challenging times.

Since her early days, Manon Hily has relied on a strong relationship with her coach, who has been with her for over fifteen years. This continuity—rare at this level—contributes to the stability of her approach and the trust built up over time.

Alongside her are her climbing partners, her loved ones, and everyone else who indirectly contributes to the balance needed to carry out this kind of project. On the crag, the sense of teamwork is ever-present, even when the goal seems very personal.

The film highlights this human aspect, which is central to his approach to climbing.

More than just a rating: what Trip Tik Tonik stands for

Beyond the 9a, Trip Tik Tonik represents, above all, a milestone in a journey built over time. It’s a way to continue pushing one’s limits while staying true to one’s vision of climbing.

The project tells the story of both athletic progress and personal growth. It speaks to perseverance and dedication, but also to the ability to find meaning in the journey itself, regardless of the final outcome.

It also has a more personal side to it. Rémy Bergasse, a climber and close friend who passed away about ten years ago, taught her a different way of looking at climbing: finding joy in the challenges and pushing forward with determination. When she climbed her first true 9a—symbolically ten years later—he was the first person she thought of.

 

Through this film, Manon Hily ultimately shares an approach to climbing where performance is never isolated from the rest: it is fueled by experiences, human connections, and the joy of building something over the long term.

If this article has inspired you to learn more, the film is available for free on our YouTube channel. Watch Manon’s full story in*Manon Hily — Trip Tik Tonik (9a/5.14d)*.