And he did it dangerously.

With warm, spring conditions making it tough for the competitors, Ligety went out and put down the fastest second run to win the final World Cup giant slalom of the season and capture the discipline title, joining U.S. teammates Lindsey Vonn and Bode Miller as world champions.

It was Ligety's first World Cup title; he won a silver and two bronze medals at the world championship two years ago.

Ligety's win on Friday finalized a historic day for the Americans, who also had Miller and Vonn win the overall titles in the women's and men's divisions - which is just the second time in history two Americans have accomplished such a feat at the World Cup.

For Ligety, he moved from seventh to first in a blazing second run to beat Benjamin Raich of Austria, his nearest challenger for the giant slalom title.

Ligety completed the two runs down the Stelvio course in 2 minutes, 18.04 seconds to beat Raich by 0.31 seconds. Also battling for the title was Italian Manfred Moelgg, an upstart newcomer.

"Everyone needed to go full gas to go for the win and the Cup," U.S. men's coach Phil McNichol said. "Conditions were such that you could easily end up on the wrong side of the outcome. He actually risked a lot in the toughest part on the bottom."

The win capped off a great season for Ligety, who won the final two GS races and finished with 485 points. Raich was second with 438.

"I was actually relieved that I had to throw it all on the line in the second run," Ligety said. "Coming down when I crossed the finish line seven tenths ahead, I was stoked but I was also super nervous because I knew I had to wait a couple guys before he came down."