Kilian Moni Cimalp Ambassador

Our ambassadors

Kilian Moni

Our athletes

Passionate about nature and the mountains his whole life, Kilian has lost count of the hours spent on crags and in high mountains, hanging from his ice axes and lugs on his feet on a north face.

At 22, mountaineering and ice climbing with his rope partner Hubert Boixeda are his sports of choice. But above all, he is a caver who loves exploring the depths of the earth and underwater sumps in cave diving.

His ambition to explore the deepest cavities transformed into a desire to climb the most beautiful summits, routes and faces, following legendary itineraries. Kilian decided to leave Avignon, the South and its warmth to settle in Grenoble, closer to the mountains and fully immerse himself in his pursuits. Still studying for a Master's in Sports Science, Management and Tourism (mountain track), he is also a keen sport and traditional climbing enthusiast, canyoning fan, and ski touring devotee.

Key Achievement

The ascent of the North Face of the Ailefroide, Écrins.
A 3-day bivvy with my partner Hubert Boixeda at the foot of the North-East face of Mont-Blanc du Tacul to complete two major couloir routes.
The traverse of the Meije with a dream bivvy below the summit, Écrins.
Ascent of the North Face of the Eiger via the Heckmair route.
Full Gabbarou-Albinoni route with Hubert and ski descent via the normal route of Mont Blanc du Tacul 4248m.
Complete traverse of the Brouillard Ridge in 27h (bivvy included) with a bivvy at 4600m.
North Face of the Drus via the Direct North Couloir.
Ice climbing: coup de blues à crevoux (M6+, 6, 6b, A3, 300m).
Cristal palace extension (6, M8, 250m).
Ascent of the North Face of the Grandes Jorasses and paragliding take-off.
Direct American Route on the Drus in 10h33.
Direct North Couloir of the Drus.

Future projects

An expedition to Nepal.
North Face of the Matterhorn.
North Face of Les Droites

Interview with Kilian Moni

3 words that define you as an athlete?

Passionate. Perfectionist. Ambitious.

3 values that define you as a person?

Perseverance, solidarity, responsibility.

Why do you feel you belong to the Cimalp family?

At Cimalp, you find a family of passionate people, mountain lovers and outdoor sports enthusiasts — whether trail, mountaineering, skiing or hiking. A family that wants to make the mountains accessible to everyone, so that each person can marvel at the beauty of nature. Cimalp also reflects values that are close to my heart, such as sharing and passion for sport, and it's through those values that I feel I belong to the Cimalp family.

Your best and worst memory in the mountains — and why?

My best memory — that's a tough question! I'd say reaching the summit of the North Face of the Ailefroide in the Écrins with my rope partner, Hubert. After being caught in a storm the night before and sleeping in a snow hole at nearly 3,000m altitude, we climbed the face as best we could along a magnificent but gruelling line, with a 2am start. When we finally reached the top of the route, in fog and falling snow, it felt like a true achievement… like a release! All that remained was to pull the rappels down the South face to reach the refuge before nightfall. As for my worst memory, I think it was when I fell while pulling rappels late in the day in the Écrins massif. It had been a beautiful ice cascade we'd just completed. But a small lapse in attention made me slip on a slope for over 80m. I got a helicopter ride, a decent plaster cast on my left leg, and numerous wounds and scratches. A reminder that the mountains can be dangerous…

What do the mountains inspire in you?

Freedom, the drive to always go higher and climb the most beautiful peaks on the horizon. The urge to escape, to venture where no one goes and have my breath taken away. The mountains are my playground, my favourite place to spend my most beautiful days — and my most beautiful nights.

What is your relationship with the environment and ecology?

As a student in mountain tourism, I'm immersed in the ecological transition of mountain tourism facing the impact of climate change. It's therefore a very important issue for me. Nature and the mountains are wonderful spaces we must protect by every means possible. I cycle every day to university, for example — far better than sitting in traffic in a car! This year I want to do as many mountain outings by bike as possible: leaving home on two wheels, continuing on foot, then climbing to the mountain summits — not a single kilometre by car!

Another great passion or talent beyond sport?

Studies!