2026 International Technical jury

France – age 38.

The first ascent of the northeast pillar of Cerro Riso Patron, a particularly isolated and inhospitable peak in Patagonia, was only the second route to be awarded a Piolet d’Or in 2016 by a team that included a woman. Lise is a mountain guide and a supervisor of the FFME Women’s National Mountaineering Team. An insatiable climber and traveller, her curiosity and love of exploration have taken her to the most remote mountain ranges, from Patagonia to Alaska and the Karakoram. In February 2024, in the company of Fanny Schmutz and Maud Vanpoulle, she made the first all-female ascent of the Filo Sureste on Cerro Torre.

Spain – age 68

Jordi is a long-time IFMGA mountain guide living in Benasque on the southern slopes of the Pyrenees. Born in Barcelona, he spent his youth climbing in the Pyrenees and the mountains of La Rioja, where he began creating new routes. It was during this time that couloir climbing and winter first ascents developed on the Pyrenean peaks. At the beginning of the 1990s he decided to commit fully to the mountains and became a professional guide.

Jordi has made significant contribution to multiple areas of mountaineering, from his high-standard personal ascents in pure style such as the second ascent of the Magic Line (south-southwest ridge) on 8,611m K2 in 2004, climbing alone from around 8,300m and then descending the Abruzzi Spur. At the time the Magic Line was considered to be the hardest technical ascent on the mountain and there has been no further ascent.

But also thanks to his long career as a professional guide [more than 30 years of guiding in the Alps], his role as director of the Spanish National Mountaineering Team from 2002 – 2010, to the training of new guides. Perhaps his most significant role is the use of his vision of alpinism – a lightweight, free climbing, modern progressive style – to influence the transition between two generations of Spanish climbers. He received the Lifetime Achievement Piolet d’Or in 2004.

Slovenia – age 38

Luka Lindič has been fascinated by mountains since he was a child. When he started climbing he knew he wanted to go far and go hard. Ambitious from the beginning he trained meticulously and systematically. His efforts were fully recognized in 2008 for the first time when he was awarded the title of the Most Promising Alpine Climber for 2008 by the Mountaineering Association of Slovenia. In 2009, 2014 and 2016 he was recognised as the Most successful Slovenian Alpinist by the Alpine Association of Slovenia.

He was awarded a Piolet d’Or in 2015 for the first ascent of the north face of Hagshu (6,515 m) in Kishtwar with his compatriots Aleš Česen and Marko Prezelj

From a solo ascent of the Peuterey Inégrale in under sixteen hours to the north-west ridge of the north summit of Gasherbrum IV (7,925 m) in alpine style (again with Aleš Česen), via the famous ‘Alpine trilogy’ of Grade 8 multi-pitch routes (Silbergeier in the Rätikon, Der Kaisers neue Kleider in the Wilder Kaiser and End of Silence in Berchtesgaden), Luka demonstrates incredible versatility on both rock and ice.

“In the last years I sensed the need of becoming more responsible to environment and the modern problems of our society. Picking up quality, surrounding friendly projects and trying to travel less are becoming my priority. Again and again it surprises me what lays in hills just around the corner, if one opens his/her eyes.”

Korea – age 48.

Based in a country “with colonial past and no glaciated mountains” Young Hoon have long been seeking ways in which alpinism may shine for all and for long. His light-and-fast approach in Himalayan climbing, including the first ascent of Amphu I (6 740 m, 2013), “was a result of many years of climbs in South Korea and elsewhere in both classical and innovative ways. “ This distinct journey—from a hilly land to Greater Ranges—has offered him moments to ponder beyond the terms such as height and grade and identify the essence of alpinism to envision its diverse pathways into the future. As a founding member of the Korea Himalayan Fund, he is “part of a small circle of Korean alpinists seeking alternatives and variations as the mountains are becoming increasingly finite and fragile.”

UK – age 57.

Paul holds a special place in the history of the Piolets d’Or, being the only alpinist to have received it five times: 2003, 2013 and 2016 with Mick Fowler (they were the first British winners of the award), 2017 with Nick Bullock (first ascent of the north buttress of Nyanchen Tanglha Southeast 7,046m in Tibet), and in 2023 with Tim Miller (first ascent of Jugal Spire 6,563m in Nepal). On each occasion, these ascents were completed in a pure, minimalist alpine style, on Himalayan peaks that were little known and largely unexplored.

Paul is just a keen amateur, a father with a family, and a full-time industrial safety professional (an expert in the field of chemical exposure) - when he's not escaping to the Himalaya and unknown mountains with their sometimes-unpronounceable names. "I love mountains; it's as simple as that. But as I don't live or work near them, it keeps me enthusiastic when I visit them... ...It’s all about style. The real adventure is not knowing the outcome. If success is uncertain, then you're living an adventure."

Italia – age 65.

Ethics, lightness and discretion have always been Enrico Rosso's signature. He attempted technical ascents in alpine style at a time when this style was little practiced. His objectives have been as aesthetic as they have been difficult, for example the northeast face of Shivling in 1986, and the southwest ridge of Latok III in 1988. In 1989, he reached the summit of the Diamond Pillar at over 6,900m in an attempt on a new route up the south pillar of Nuptse, and in 1994 climbed a mostly new route on the north side of Thalay Sagar to within 200m of the summit, both in alpine style. Enrico has made numerous first ascents in Patagonia, Peru and Bolivia, and also on the east face of the Grandes Jorasses.