Australian snowboard superstar Scotty James has extended his phenomenal X Games winning streak to five, taking out the superpipe final under lights in Aspen, USA. The victory delivers him his eighth career gold medal at the prestigious event, drawing him level with American legend Shaun White for the most X Games snowboard golds. James now surpasses White for all‑time superpipe podiums, earning his 11th career medal in the event.
James opened in the best of three run final with a score of 92.33 points, with his run featuring a switch backside 1440, the first time the trick has been performed in X-Games history.
In his second run, James was set for another strong score but came in a little short on one of his landings at the end of the run, clipping the lip of the pipe, and opted to not attempt his last hit, scoring 30.33 points.
In his third and final run, James saved the best for last, with his final two hits featuring a switch backside 1440 into a backside 1440, the first time such a combination has ever been performed in competition. James had a light hand drag on his final landing, but the judges were still impressed scoring a huge 95 points to secure victory.
Joining James on the podium were Japan’s Haku Shimisaki, who claimed silver with 89.66, and Shuichiro Shigeno, who finished third with a score of 85.
“Tonight I came out, and I never take anyone for granted, all my competitors that I ride against, every year they get better and tonight I knew I had to do something to put my best foot forward and try and win,” said the 31-year-old from Warrandyte in Victoria.
“I think they inspire me as well, I think maybe I’ve got a chip on my shoulder every year, thinking maybe it wouldn’t be expected to show up and try again and win again, and I managed to do that today, and I am speechless.
“I wanted to do something for myself and for the halfpipe and push backside riding as much as I can, and tonight I think that was always the plan, I wanted to come out and do the first ever back-to-back backside 14s ever, so I am pumped.”
James now turns his attention to the Olympic Winter Games in Milano‑Cortina, where he will look to become the first Australian winter sports athlete to capture a third Olympic medal.
James opened in the best of three run final with a score of 92.33 points, with his run featuring a switch backside 1440, the first time the trick has been performed in X-Games history.
In his second run, James was set for another strong score but came in a little short on one of his landings at the end of the run, clipping the lip of the pipe, and opted to not attempt his last hit, scoring 30.33 points.
In his third and final run, James saved the best for last, with his final two hits featuring a switch backside 1440 into a backside 1440, the first time such a combination has ever been performed in competition. James had a light hand drag on his final landing, but the judges were still impressed scoring a huge 95 points to secure victory.
Joining James on the podium were Japan’s Haku Shimisaki, who claimed silver with 89.66, and Shuichiro Shigeno, who finished third with a score of 85.
“Tonight I came out, and I never take anyone for granted, all my competitors that I ride against, every year they get better and tonight I knew I had to do something to put my best foot forward and try and win,” said the 31-year-old from Warrandyte in Victoria.
“I think they inspire me as well, I think maybe I’ve got a chip on my shoulder every year, thinking maybe it wouldn’t be expected to show up and try again and win again, and I managed to do that today, and I am speechless.
“I wanted to do something for myself and for the halfpipe and push backside riding as much as I can, and tonight I think that was always the plan, I wanted to come out and do the first ever back-to-back backside 14s ever, so I am pumped.”
James now turns his attention to the Olympic Winter Games in Milano‑Cortina, where he will look to become the first Australian winter sports athlete to capture a third Olympic medal.
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