By Freddy Perryman, U.S. Ski Team

INNICHEN, Italy – American John Teller of Mammoth raced his way onto the podium Sunday with third in the skicross World Cup in Innichen. Australia’s Scott Kneller won the race.

Teller, a former University of Colorado Ski Team captain, marked a career best on the World Cup stage. He qualified for the finals in 11th and made the most of it finishing second in each heat to advance to the four man final race.

Sunday’s finish was the best showing for Teller in all competitions since February 2010, where he finished second in the NorAm Cup race at Sugar Bowl. He followed in Casey Puckett’s (Aspen) footsteps, making it the second consecutive year an American has placed third in Innichen. He is also the first American to stand on a World Cup skicross podium since Daron Rahlves of Sugar Bowl finished second in St. Johann, Austria, last January.

Teller was one of only two athletes from the U.S. who competed. He was joined by Pat Duran of Vermont in 34th. There were no women competitors from the U.S.

The next World Cup skicross is scheduled for Jan. 7 in St. Johann, Austria.

Official results, FIS Freestyle World Cup,Innichen, Italy, Skicross

Men

1. Scott Kneller, Australia

2. Alex Fiva, Switzerland

3. John Teller, Mammoth, CA

4. Tomas Kraus, Czech Republic

5. Christopher Delbosco, Canada

–

34. Pat Duran, N. Fayston, VT

Women

1. Fanny Smith, Switzerland

2. Ashleigh Mcivor, Canada

3. Heidi Zacher, Germany

4. Anna Homelund, Sweden

5. Andrea Limbacher, Austria