Teller Tops U.S. in Ski Cross

BRANAS, Sweden - U.S. athlete John Teller (Mammoth Lakes, CA) had a landmark day on the World Cup, finishing 11th to mark a career best ski cross finish in Sweden.

Teller's previous best finish was this season during the World Cup at the Nature Valley Freestyle Cup in Lake Placid when he finished 20th.

"Ever since Lake Placid he's been figuring out stuff and getting more confident," U.S. Ski Cross Head Coach Tyler Shepherd said. "He carried all his momentum over there and qualified ninth, and to get 11th means he moved to the first round and he's skiing solid."

Michael Schmid of Switzerland won the World Cup in Sweden, followed in second by Canadian Chris DelBosco and Andreas Matt of Austria in third.

Biche Rudigoz (Ketchum, ID) followed Teller for the U.S., finishing 43rd.

In the women's competition Ophelie David of France won, followed in second by Aleisha Cline of Canada and Fanny Smith of Switzerland in third. No U.S. women competed.

The ski cross World Cup circuit continues in Grindelwald, Switzerland March 11.