Scotty James has had quite the fortnight — even compared to his illustrious career as one of the world’s greatest-ever snowboarders.
After claiming the FIS World Cup gold in Laax, the 10th World Cup crown of James’s career, the 30-year-old then became the only man to win four straight X-Games half pipe gold medals a week later in Aspen.
It was the 10th medal overall that he has won at the invitation-only event.
“It’s the benchmark,” James told ABC Sport.
“It’s the event that we all want to win and I, fortunately, had some some good success here, which has been amazing and been able to break some records now, which was a dream.
“I plan to hopefully break a few more in the years to come.”
Scotty James won his first FIS World Cup gold of the season at Laax. (Supplied: FIS Snowboard)
Despite that, a year out from the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina, James has his eyes set on the one prize that had eluded him.
“I think I’ve got one stone left unturned,” James said.
“If I was to be completely honest and candid, that would be to win a gold medal.”
James has come desperately close before.
A bronze medal in PyeongChang in 2018, followed by a silver in Beijing four years later, a silver that came after Japanese star Ayumu Hirano landed a never-before-seen-in-competition triple cork — twice — to overhaul James and his more technically risky runs that had seen him take the lead early in the competition.
Even after winning that silver medal in Beijing, James was adamant the next step in his journey was to “finish off my collection in the pool room”.
And three years later, it seems he is on track, with even more motivation to succeed at what would be his fifth Olympics.
“I’m obviously one of the older guys in the field, but my spirit still feels really young,” James said.
“We’ve just had a little baby boy, Leo [with wife Chloe Stroll] — he’s almost four months old now — [and] that’s really given me new motivations, given me new perspective as a sports person.
“It’s made me appreciate time a lot more when I’m on the mountain.
“There’s so many different things that have evolved in my life and I would just say overall I’m even more driven.
“I’m feeling really healthy and yeah, looking forward to probably continuing that trajectory.”
Scotty James has won four times in the Laax half pipe on the FIS World Cup circuit. (Supplied: FIS Snowboard)
James has been competing in FIS events since 2008 when he was just 14 years old, making his Olympic bow in Calgary as a 15-year-old in 2010.
Now in his 30s, James said that his longevity in a sport populated by teenagers — like his Australian teammate Val Guseli, who is currently out of action with an injured ACL — has helped mould him into the successful rider he is today.
“It’s been a long journey,” James said.
“I would attribute it to probably I find that I have a lot of consistency.
“Consistency with the important things from a mental and physical side, working really hard on the mountain.
“And, you know, I’ve had to be very resilient, being from Australia, to leave home at a young age, the sacrifice myself and my family had to try and make my dreams a reality.
“So I mean all of that put together is a really big driving motivator for me and keeps me very honest with what my goals are.
“As much as it’s been a challenge, the journey, it’s also been a blessing and it’s made all of these, these wins even more special.”
James described his record-breaking X-Games win as being “the pinnacle” of the sport, and said he was “incredibly proud” to beat the record held by his good “rival and friend”, Shaun White, who retired after his fifth Olympics in Beijing, aged 35.
Scotty James has won 10 FIS World Cup gold medals. (Getty Images: Sam Mellish)
With that in mind, James still has plenty of time left to achieve his goals.
And all the indications are that the Australian is going to continue improving into the coming year — and beyond.
The three-time overall World Cup winner is leading the overall standings again this season with, a fifth crystal globe in his sights, with a world championship in St Moritz in March also on the horizon, where he will hope to add to his three half pipe world titles.
“This year has been, for me, one of the most enjoyable and challenging seasons,” James said.
“Every competitor is in the field, at least all the most challenging rivals that I have.
“So it’s definitely made me have to bring my my A-game, which has been awesome and they’ve pushed me and challenged me.”
The first, most important task is to qualify for Milan-Cortina.
After that, James has gold in his sights.
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