Gouault-Haston, Laurence

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Gouault-Haston, Laurence

French climber and photographer. Name variations: Laurence Gouault Haston; Laurence Gouault; Laurence Haston. Born Laurence Gouault in France; m. Stevie Haston (English climber).

Europe's best woman ice climber and one of the top woman mountain climbers in the world, placed 1st among women at International Ice Climbing contest, Courchevel, France (1993 and 1994); made 1st ascent by a woman of "Fang" grade 6, Vail (1996); made 3rd ascent and 1st female ascent of a grade 7+ (Les compères, Italy, 1997); won silver in Ice Climbing in both Difficulty and Speed at X Games (1997); made 1st snowboard descent of Snow Dome 5000m, Pakistan (1999); made snowboard descent of a 7000m in Tibet (1999). While climbing with husband in Nepal, was cut off and held captive by Maoist rebels, from whom they managed to escape (2002).

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