Aerials action began the Championships in Italy ©FIS

Dzmitry Mazurkevich led a Belarus 1-2 as aerials action began competition at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Junior Freestyle World Championships in Valmalenco.

Mazurkevich was given a score of 97.64 in the big final at the Italian resort, enough to beat his compatriot Pavel Dik who tallied 90.24.

The Belarus pair dominated the competition as China's bronze medallist Jiaxu Sun was someway adrift on 79.66.

He fought a personal battle with team-mate Zhonglin Li who just missed out on the podium in fourth, scoring 78.96.

In the women's competition there was a massive win for Russia's Liubov Nikitina.

Liubov Nikitina of Russia won the women's title ©Getty Images
Liubov Nikitina of Russia won the women's title ©Getty Images

She scored 94.47 to dwarf the score of American silver medallist Winter Vinecki, who totalled 75.11.

Bronze went to Qi Shao of China who was given a score of 72.21 from the judges.

Action will continue in Valmalenco until April 7.

Tomorrow, the men's and women's single moguls titles will be decided.