Montafon, Austria – Seven-time X Games gold medalist Lindsey Jacobellis teamed up with Olympian Callan Chythlook-Sifsof to mount a joint comeback, taking second in the women’s team World Cup in Montafon on Sunday behind Italians Raffaella Brutto and Michela Moioli, while Germany won for the men.

This was the first weekend back from injury for both Jacobellis and Chythlook-Sifsof, and for Jacobellis, a return to the World Cup circuit after a two-year break.

“It feels pretty awesome to be back on snow. I was freaking out and wasn’t sure I could put a whole course together and make it through,” said Jacobellis, of Stratton Mountain, Vt. “There were a lot of injuries out there so it was intimidating to think about racing. The night before I was having nightmares thinking of everything that could go wrong, and then I did my first warm up run and it was awesome. It was like nothing had changed. I just didn’t really know how I would stack up to everyone after not racing in a year and a half, but then after qualifying third in the individual event I knew I was back in it.”

Chythlook-Sifsof underwent ACL reconstruction surgery this past spring, and led the final race down to the finish where the Italian team surged past.

“We were so close to the win. I didn’t know how close the Italian girl was behind me and, coming into the straightaway, I had a little bobble and she just passed me,” she explained. “But we’re happy to be on the podium and have had a good day of racing.”

Jacobellis broke her thumb in the individual snowboardcross race Saturday but was still able to compete.

“I decided to race with a broken thumb, taking race by race,” Jacobellis explained. “I felt tentative and scared going into the World Cup, but during these last two days racing in the heats I got my confidence back. I’m not afraid and it’s good to have that feeling back.”

In the men’s race, Alex Deibold (Manchester Center, Vt.) and Hagen Kearney (Telluride, Colo.) teamed up and finished sixth. The German team of Paul Berg and Konstantin Schad took the victory for the men.

“It wasn’t easy. I just went for it, all or nothing. No doubt about it,” said Schad. “We were so motivated yesterday already but got so unlucky. Winning this one feels great and is a nice redemption for yesterday.”

The snowboardcross athletes next head to Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada, for a World Cup race Dec. 21.