Trace Worthington of Park City became the first double champion of the Freestyle World Championships on Sunday, joining Nikki Stone of Westborough, Mass., for an American sweep of the aerials competition on the final day of the championships.
Worthington, the World Cup aerials leader who won the combined gold medal on Thursday, narrowly captured the aerials event with 243.10 points. Christian Rijavec of Austria was runner-up with 241.35.Stone led the women's eliminations last week and landed both jumps smoothly Sunday for 176.53 points.
Worthington, who lives near the base of Wolf Mountain Ski Area in Park City, said winning the combined title helped him relax for aerials.
He received five perfect 7.0 scores for his aerial maneuvers on his second jump and was docked just two-tenths of a point on his landing as he overtook Rijavec.
"I knew that whatever happened in aerials, I was going to be leaving here as a world champion."