Dawson, Traa Win Gold in World Cup Event

PARK CITY, Utah - Toby Dawson and Norwegian Kari Traa used aerial acrobatics to earn gold medals for moguls in World Cup freestyle ski competition Friday.

Dawson used a two-revolution spin with his skis slightly over his head to punctuate his winning run. Traa, the Olympic gold medalist and two-time reigning world moguls champion, employed a skis-crossed-backflip that drew a roar from the 2,000 spectators lining the Champion run at the Deer Valley Resort.

Banned on the World Cup tour until this year, maneuvers in which the skiers' feet go over their heads are now commonplace.

"You just have to trust yourself to get around," Traa said.

Dawson's run, during which the 25-year-old skier from Vail, Colo., performed a "Heli-Iron Cross" on the first of his two required jumps, earned him 26.42 points from the seven judges.

Second with 26.26 was Janne Lahtela of Finland, the gold medalist at the Salt Lake Games and the top-ranked competitor on the moguls circuit this season.

Travis Cabral of South Lake Tahoe, Nev., was third with 26.18.

On the women's side, Traa compiled 26 points, and Hannah Kearney of Norwich, Vt., was second with 25.58. Canadian Jennifer Heil, the World Cup leader, was third at 25.27.

Lahtela, who didn't train all week while recovering from crashing during a competition in British Columbia last week, spent the break between Friday's qualifying round and the finals getting physical therapy.

The victory was Traa's 29th of her World Cup career, one short of her goal of 30 victories by her 30th birthday, which passed Wednesday.