Kit Deslauriers
Encyclopedia
Kit DesLauriers is a champion American
skier and the first person to ski down the Seven Summits
.
She was born in Albany, New York
and grew up in Westport, Massachusetts
and Long Island, New York. Her grandfather built the first chairlift at Stowe Mountain in Vermont
. By the time she visited Telluride, Colorado
with her family during a ski vacation, she was already an avid skier, having fallen in love with the sport on her very first downhill run at the age of 14. Then, prior to starting high school, her family moved to Arizona
. DesLauriers graduated from the University of Arizona
with a degree in environmental political science, where she took up trail running
and rock climbing
. While pursuing her college degree in Arizona, Kit
also obtained a scholarship from the National Outdoor Leadership School
and in the summer of 1991, Kit spent a semester in Alaska
. During college, she also modeled for a while so she could travel to Europe
and further her ski skills, especially at Verbier
. After college, she moved to Telluride, Colorado
where she lived for nearly ten years. She also spent lots of time in Indian Creek, Utah. In Telluride, she volunteered extensively with the San Miguel County Search and Rescue Team and also worked for the ski patrol
at Telluride Ski Resort for two seasons, during which time she became a certified EMT and highly trained in technical and helicopter rescue.
Kit first realized she wanted to ski mountains while standing atop a peak in Sikkim, India, in 1998. It was then she decided to focus on ski mountaineering and began refining her skills so that she could ski anything, anywhere in the world.
She is a two-time women's world freeskiing
champion, winning back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005 after only two years of competition. In August 2005, she won the women's division of the Rendezvous Hill Climb to the top of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
. The idea for the Seven Summits
adventure was visualized during her time on the freeskiing circuit. The initial notion came from a 2005 meeting with Richard Bass
, the first person to climb all of the peaks.
DesLauriers is the first woman to climb and ski Mount Aspiring/Tititea in New Zealand
, and the first woman and first American to ski from the summit of Mount Everest
. She is only the third woman to climb and ski Grand Teton
in Wyoming
. She is a certified Wildnerness Emergency Medical Technician, a Telluride Professional Ski Patroller, a Rescue 3 International low to high angle rope rescue instructor, a Helicopter Rescue Technician, and volunteers with Search and Rescue.
At 11 a.m. on October 18, 2006, DesLauriers pushed off of the summit of Mount Everest
and made history as the first person to ski from the summit of the highest mountain on all seven continents. Her quest began in May 2004, when she became the first American woman to climb and ski from the summit of the highest peak in America -- Mount McKinley
, in Alaska
. This was followed in 2005 with a trek to Mount Elbrus
in Russia
, Europe's highest peak, a descent from Mount Kosciuszko
, the highest mountain in Australia, Vinson Massif
, the highest peak on Antarctica, and Aconcagua
, Argentina
, the highest peak in South America. In spring 2006 she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro
, Africa
's highest mountain.
DesLauriers and her husband, Rob Deslauriers
, met in 1999 while on a mountaineering trip to Mount Belukha in Siberia
. The couple live in Teton Village, Wyoming
, where she is a stonemason and runs landscape design company Rockit Corporation. DesLauriers also coaches other women in skiing, and runs the "Turn It Up Women's Ski Camps." She also is a road and mountain bicycle competitor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
skier and the first person to ski down the Seven Summits
Seven Summits
The Seven Summits are the highest mountains of each of the seven continents. Summiting all of them is regarded as a mountaineering challenge, first postulated as such and achieved on April 30, 1985 by Richard Bass .-Definition:...
.
She was born in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and grew up in Westport, Massachusetts
Westport, Massachusetts
Westport is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 15,532 at the 2010 census.The village of North Westport lies in the town.- History :...
and Long Island, New York. Her grandfather built the first chairlift at Stowe Mountain in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. By the time she visited Telluride, Colorado
Telluride, Colorado
The town of Telluride is the county seat and most populous town of San Miguel County in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Colorado. The town is a former silver mining camp on the San Miguel River in the western San Juan Mountains...
with her family during a ski vacation, she was already an avid skier, having fallen in love with the sport on her very first downhill run at the age of 14. Then, prior to starting high school, her family moved to Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. DesLauriers graduated from the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
with a degree in environmental political science, where she took up trail running
Trail running
Trail running is a variant on running that differs markedly from road running and track running. Trail running generally takes place on hiking trails, most commonly single track trails, although fire roads are not uncommon. A distinguishing characteristic of the trails is that they are often...
and rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
. While pursuing her college degree in Arizona, Kit
also obtained a scholarship from the National Outdoor Leadership School
National Outdoor Leadership School
The National Outdoor Leadership School , is a non-profit outdoor education school based in the United States dedicated to teaching environmental ethics, technical outdoor skills, safety and judgment, and leadership on extended wilderness expeditions...
and in the summer of 1991, Kit spent a semester in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. During college, she also modeled for a while so she could travel to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and further her ski skills, especially at Verbier
Verbier
Verbier is a village located in southwestern Switzerland in the canton of Valais. It is one of the largest holiday resort and ski areas in the Swiss Alps, is recognized as one of the premiere "off-piste" locations in the world...
. After college, she moved to Telluride, Colorado
Telluride, Colorado
The town of Telluride is the county seat and most populous town of San Miguel County in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Colorado. The town is a former silver mining camp on the San Miguel River in the western San Juan Mountains...
where she lived for nearly ten years. She also spent lots of time in Indian Creek, Utah. In Telluride, she volunteered extensively with the San Miguel County Search and Rescue Team and also worked for the ski patrol
Ski patrol
A Ski Patrol is an organization that provides Emergency Medical and rescue services to skiers and participants of other snow sports, either at a ski area or in a back country setting. Patrollers are trained in Basic or Advanced Life Support to stabilize and transport patients to definitive care,...
at Telluride Ski Resort for two seasons, during which time she became a certified EMT and highly trained in technical and helicopter rescue.
Kit first realized she wanted to ski mountains while standing atop a peak in Sikkim, India, in 1998. It was then she decided to focus on ski mountaineering and began refining her skills so that she could ski anything, anywhere in the world.
She is a two-time women's world freeskiing
Freeskiing
Freeskiing or Newschool skiing involves tricks, jumps, and terrain park features, such as rails, boxes, jibs, or other obstacles. This form of skiing resulted from a combination of the growth in popularity of snowboarding as well as the progression of Freestyle skiing...
champion, winning back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005 after only two years of competition. In August 2005, she won the women's division of the Rendezvous Hill Climb to the top of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is a ski resort at Teton Village, Wyoming. Located northwest of Jackson and due south of Grand Teton National Park in Teton County, it is named after the historically significant Jackson Hole valley. The region is served by the Jackson Hole Airport.-Ski area...
. The idea for the Seven Summits
Seven Summits
The Seven Summits are the highest mountains of each of the seven continents. Summiting all of them is regarded as a mountaineering challenge, first postulated as such and achieved on April 30, 1985 by Richard Bass .-Definition:...
adventure was visualized during her time on the freeskiing circuit. The initial notion came from a 2005 meeting with Richard Bass
Richard Bass
Richard "Dick" Bass is the owner of Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah and the first man to climb the "Seven Summits," the tallest mountain on each continent. There is no relation with the Bass Family of Fort Worth, Texas.-Early life:...
, the first person to climb all of the peaks.
DesLauriers is the first woman to climb and ski Mount Aspiring/Tititea in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and the first woman and first American to ski from the summit of Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
. She is only the third woman to climb and ski Grand Teton
Grand Teton
Grand Teton is the highest mountain in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park, and a classic destination in American mountaineering.- Geography :...
in Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. She is a certified Wildnerness Emergency Medical Technician, a Telluride Professional Ski Patroller, a Rescue 3 International low to high angle rope rescue instructor, a Helicopter Rescue Technician, and volunteers with Search and Rescue.
At 11 a.m. on October 18, 2006, DesLauriers pushed off of the summit of Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
and made history as the first person to ski from the summit of the highest mountain on all seven continents. Her quest began in May 2004, when she became the first American woman to climb and ski from the summit of the highest peak in America -- Mount McKinley
Mount McKinley
Mount McKinley or Denali in Alaska, United States is the highest mountain peak in North America and the United States, with a summit elevation of above sea level. It is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve.- Geology and features :Mount McKinley is a granitic pluton...
, in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. This was followed in 2005 with a trek to Mount Elbrus
Mount Elbrus
Mount Elbrus is an inactive volcano located in the western Caucasus mountain range, in Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia, Russia, near the border of Georgia. Mt. Elbrus's peak is the highest in the Caucasus, in Russia...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, Europe's highest peak, a descent from Mount Kosciuszko
Mount Kosciuszko
Mount Kosciuszko is a mountain located in the Snowy Mountains in Kosciuszko National Park. With a height of 2,228 metres above sea level, it is the highest mountain in Australia...
, the highest mountain in Australia, Vinson Massif
Vinson Massif
Vinson Massif is the highest mountain of Antarctica, lying in the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, which stand above the Ronne Ice Shelf near the base of the Antarctic Peninsula. The massif is located about from the South Pole and is about long and wide. At the highest point is Mount...
, the highest peak on Antarctica, and Aconcagua
Aconcagua
Aconcagua is the highest mountain in the Americas at . It is located in the Andes mountain range, in the Argentine province of Mendoza and it lies west by north of its capital, the city of Mendoza. The summit is also located about 5 kilometres from San Juan Province and 15 kilometres from the...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, the highest peak in South America. In spring 2006 she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
's highest mountain.
DesLauriers and her husband, Rob Deslauriers
Rob Deslauriers
Rob DesLauriers is one of the originators of extreme skiing.-Biography:DesLauriers began skiing at the age of two. His parents owned Bolton Valley Ski Resort in Vermont, which gave the young man and his brother Eric the opportunity to ski almost every day...
, met in 1999 while on a mountaineering trip to Mount Belukha in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. The couple live in Teton Village, Wyoming
Teton Village, Wyoming
Teton Village is a census-designated place in Teton County, Wyoming, United States. The population was 175 at the 2000 census. The village surrounds the base of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort...
, where she is a stonemason and runs landscape design company Rockit Corporation. DesLauriers also coaches other women in skiing, and runs the "Turn It Up Women's Ski Camps." She also is a road and mountain bicycle competitor.
Sources
- USA Today 2005 Article
- http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=1035&sesid=9fceef4fa75dbaf61c6f7f00e0e3adb7