Teenager Jarryd Hughes was the best of the Australians in early season World Cup action, the snowboard cross competitor's eighth place in Austria a personal best.
With two-times world champion Alex `Chumpy' Pullin sitting out the event with a minor back complaint, 18 year-old Hughes flew the flag for the Australian men alongside Cam Bolton.
Hughes crossed the line in the first final in second place and then backed up with a third place in the quarters to move to the semis where he finished fifth, short of the top three places needed to qualify for the final.
Austrian Markus Schairer won the event ahead of Italian Omar Visitin and the third placed Canadian Kevin Hill.
Bolton finished 19th.
Olympic halfpipe champion Torah Bright, who is attempting to qualify for snowboard cross in Sochi, made it to the head-to-head racing but couldn't advance out of the first heat.
She finished in 20th place with Belle Brockhoff 13th.
The women's event was won by Czech Eva Samkova, while Canada's Dominique Maltais was second and Norway's Helene Olafsen was third.
Australia's ski cross squad was also in action in their opening World Cup in Nakiska, Canada with Jenny Owens finishing 16th while Anton Grimus was 19th in the men's event.
