Tribout started climbing at age seven in Fontainebleau, France with his grandfather, a mountaineer, and also joined the youth section of the French Alpine Club.

Between 1986 and 1998, he participated in international competition climbing events, finishing third twice and fourth twice in the final standings of the World Cup.

This ascent is the subject of controversy as Tribout sent it after American climber Alan Watts had bolted it.

Climber Tommy Caldwell later recounted this controversy in his book, The Push.

Furthermore, Tribout’s use of a chisel to create better holds inflamed local climbing ethics at the time and to this day.