Mammoth’s Teller makes history in skicross

By Freddy Perryman, U.S. Ski Team

ST. JOHANN, Austria – John Teller of Mammoth Mountain made history scoring the first World Cup win for an American in Thursday’s skicross race.

Thursday’s result was a career best for the American Skicross Association skier as he landed on the podium for the second straight event. He started the podium trend in Innichen, Italy, last month with third before taking top honors in St. Johann. Teller’s win will go down in the history books for the USA as the first ever American skicross World Cup victory.

“He absolutely killed it! I had a good feeling yesterday when he qualified in fifth,” said American Skicross Association’s and five-time Olympian Casey Puckett. “I know that course. If you have a good start position you have a good chance.”

Teller qualified in fifth position for the final rounds. Once in the finals, he didn’t look back sweeping the three heats including his quarterfinal and semifinal on the way to the final four man race. Teller’s competition in the final heat was Nick Zoricic of Canada, who finished second, Thomas Zangerl of Austria in third, and Austria’s Andreas Matt who came in fourth.

“The course is St. Johann is the most technical course on the World Cup and the only course that injects the snow with water,” said Puckett, who was on the USA’s first Olympic skicross team last year.

Injecting water into the course makes it much harder, in turn increasing the difficultly level and requiring better skiing abilities. Also, with injection, the landings become much firmer and less forgiving furthering the difficulty.

Teller crossed the line first with Nick Zoricic of Canada in second and Thomas Zangerl of Austria in third place.

Official results, FIS Freestyle World Cup, St. Johann, Austria, Skicross

1. John Teller, Mammoth, CA

2. Nick Zoricic, Canada

3. Thomas Zangerl, Austria

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45. Pat Duran, N. Fayston, VT

49. Jean Christophe Rudigoz, Ketchum, ID