Australian moguls skier Dale Begg-Smith has finished in seventh place in Madonna di Campiglio, Italy, in just his fifth event on the World Cup circuit.
Olympic Winter Institute team-mate Michael Robertson finished in ninth place.
Begg-Smith, 18, qualified fifth to make his first World Cup final, then went on to score 24.58 points in the 12 man final behind event winner Nathan Roberts of the United States.
It was the American’s first World Cup win, racking up 25.42 points to narrowly edge out Salt Lake 2002 gold medallist Janne Lahtela of Finland on 25.38 and US team-mate Travis Cabral on 25.31.
Begg-Smith’s brother Jason finished in 31st place with Nick Fisher in 46th.
Robertson now moves to 12th place on the World Cup standings on 63 points. Lahtela leads the standings on 280 points from Roberts on 145.
In the women’s event, won by Jenifer Heil of Canada from team-mate Stephanie St Pierre, the Australian duo of Jane Sexton and Manuela Berchtold finished in 20th and 21st place, missing the final.
Results
Men
1. Nathan Roberts USA 25.42 points
2. Janne Lahtela FIN 25.38
3. Travis Cabral USA 25.
7. Dale Begg-Smith AUS 24.58
9. Michael Robertson AUS 22.99
Women
1. Kari Traa NOR 25.03
3. Shannon Bahrke USA 24.50
3. Stephanie St Pierre CAN 23.76