By Freddy Perryman, U.S. Ski Team

MEIRINGEN-HASLIBERG, Switzerland -– X Games champion John Teller of Mammoth Lakes raced to fifth Sunday at Meiringen-Hasliberg, Switzerland. The result moved Teller into fourth in the FIS World Cup skicross standings. Finland’s Jouni Pellinen topped the men’s podium with Anna Holmlund of Sweden the women’s winner.

Teller, who has been working all season to improve his qualifying runs, ran 10th Saturday to qualify for Sunday’s finals. The top eight in qualifying get priority in lane choice during the finals, an important advantage.

In the first heat and quarterfinals, Teller was second in his group, advancing him to the semifinals. For the semifinals, he got out of the gate third, but wasn’t able to find the opening he needed to move into second and make his way into the championship round.

Making the small final, Teller got out of the gate and found himself at the back of the pack. With a deft move over the first gap hit, he jumped two spots to get into second. Biding his time over the remaining course, Teller found his opportunity to take the lead in the final stretch crossing the line first to win the small final and finish fifth on the day.

“It was a good race, a lot of passing,” said Teller of his small finals performance.

Unfortunately for Teller, Pellinen’s win today makes his bid for finishing the skicross season in the top three more difficult. Teller, who has moved to fourth in the skicross standings, trails Pellinen by 78 points with two events remaining.

As the season nears its end, Teller is quick to recognize the roll of his teammates and their support.

“The whole season, it has been really key to have such hard work from my teammates. It is really cool that the ASA [American Skicross Association] team is helping each other, because without them there is no way I would’ve done what I’ve done this season,” said Teller.

Official results, FIS World Cup,Meiringen-Hasliberg, Switzerland, Skicross

Men

1. Jouni Pellinen, Finland

2. Andreas Matt, Switzerland

3. Daniel Bohnacker, Germany

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5. John Teller, Mammoth Lakes, CA

Women

1. Anna Holmlund, Sweden

2. Katrin Mueller, Switzerland

3. Ophelie David, France