Aleš Česen, Luka Lindič and Marko Prezelj were honoured with one of three Piolet d'Or awards conferred this year for the first ascent of the 1350m North face of the Hagshu, a 6657m peak in the Kishtwar Himalaya of India in September-October 2014.

Prezelj has thus become the first climber in the world with three Golden Ice Axes to his name, the Slovenian Mountaineering Association said.

He was honoured for a 3000m ascent with Andrej Štremfelj of the South Pillar of Kanchenjunga's South Summit in 1992, the first year the award was given out.

In 2007 he was awarded for the first ascent of Chomolhari's north-west pillar, an effort he undertook with Slovenian climber Boris Lorenčič.

The awards will be conferred between 9 and 12 April in Chamonix, France and Courmayeur in Italy.