(Reuters) — Noah Bahnson finally has that monkey off his back.
After coming second the past two years, Bahnson clinched this year’s Red Bull Aces wingsuit racing championship held above the Arizona desert on Saturday (November 20).
The American has twice been runner up to compatriot Andy Farrington but this year did enough to come out on top.
40 athletes from 18 countries leapt from a helicopter 8,000 feet (2,440 metres) above the desert in four-person heats before slaloming through mid-air gates in the sky at speeds of up to 160mph.
In the final, Bahnson finished over a half a second ahead of Will Kitto in second and pushing Farrington back to third.
“I thought I had a chance. But I had lost to him (Andy Farrington) twice, two years in a row, so I thought there was also a good chance it would happen again, like last year so I am very happy,” said a relieved Bahnson.
Chilean Sebastian Alvarez came fourth in the final.
1. Noah Bahnson (USA)
2. Will Kito (USA)
3. Andy Farrington (USA)
4. Sebastian Alvarez (CHI)