Picture
Picture
Picture
  • Home
  • Aerials
    • Aerial Skiing About
    • Aerial Skiing News
    • Airleigh Frigo
    • Laura Peel
    • Danielle Scott
    • Abbey Willcox
  • ALPINE
    • Alpine About
    • Alpine News
    • Madison Hoffman
    • Harry Laidlaw
    • Louis Muhlen-Schulte
    • Greta Small
  • Moguls
    • Moguls Skiing About
    • Mogul Skiing News
    • Jakara Anthony
    • Matt Graham
    • Jackson Harvey
    • Cooper Woods
  • Park & Pipe
    • Park & Pipe About
    • Park & Pipe News
    • Tess Coady
    • Scotty James
    • Valentino Guseli
    • Daisy Thomas
  • Snowboard Cross
    • Snowboard Cross About
    • Snowboard Cross News
    • Josie Baff
    • Cameron Bolton
    • Belle Brockhoff
    • Mia Clift
    • Jarryd Hughes
    • Adam Lambert
  • Individual Athletes
    • Individual Athletes About
    • Individual Athletes News
    • Bree Walker
    • Kiara Reddingius
    • Alex Ferlazzo
    • Tahli Gill
    • Dean Hewitt
    • Hektor Giotopoulos Moore
    • Anastasiia Golubeva
    • Holly Harris
    • Jason Chan
    • Brendan Corey
    • Rosie Fordham
    • Hugo Hinckfuss
    • Ellen Søhol Lie
    • Lars Young Vik
  • About
    • OWIA News
    • Sport Integrity
    • Media
    • OWIA About
    • OWIA History
    • Executive & Staff
    • OWIA Policies & Documents
    • OWIA Calendar
    • Sponsors & Partners
    • Australian Sports Foundation
    • Newsletter
    • Privacy
    • National Redress Scheme
    • Medical
    • Contact

Scotty James is red hot and gloved up

4/12/2017

 
PictureScotty James wearing the now signature red boxing gloves and winning his second World title in Sierra Nevada in March this year. Photo: Getty Images
By his own account, last season for the two-time World Champion Scotty James was “hectic”.
His season couldn’t have been much bigger with X Games gold, defending his world title and taking home his second Crystal Globe.

“It was a pretty great year and awesome to reflect on,” James said. “I was very happy and excited at how it all turned out.”

This year, there’s a big goal on the horizon and it all begins for the 23-year-old in USA at Copper Mountain this weekend at the Snowboard Halfpipe World Cup as a step towards the PyeongChang Olympics and the only major prize not on his already golden resumé.

A veteran of two Olympics, the lessons learned and maturity gained since he made it onto the Vancouver team as a fifteen-year-old at the last minute is being put to good use.

“Life has changed. I think I’ve developed more as a person and as a rider, and starting to make better decisions for myself,” he said.

“There have been a few transitions in my performances because I’m always looking at how I can better myself and in life too – there’s been lots of changes from that side.”

“There’s always been my will to win but I’m my team better and that’s had a huge impact. More maturity of course, but a wealth of experience and I am making better decisions.”

“The experience is huge. It’s been an awesome ride for me so far which has been fantastic.”

James has been reported as the most recognised Australian sports star in USA and any added expectations that may bring are easily borne.   

“That’s an error people make - by putting people on a pedestal. I didn’t do that (before) and I don’t do it now,” he said.

Now based in USA, James is aware of the pitfalls that come with a high profile, especially surrounding the expected showdown between him and the 31-year-old two-time American Olympic gold medallist, Shaun White.

“It’s Shaun who has earned the credit to have, but he is beatable, and he is human. We are all made out of the same thing and it’s about where you position yourself. I just focus on my goals and what I need to do. I know if I do the work I can show up and do well.”  

Appreciative of his large fan base in North America, James has enjoyed the past year.

“It (the recognition) doesn’t faze me too much. I do what I have to do and don’t let too many things get in my way. Getting exposure has been great. They’re very cool fans in America.  It’s been fantastic, especially with the success I’ve had in last year.”


PictureCrystal Globe Champion, X Games gold medallist and dual Olympian Scotty James. Photo: White Circus
On the edgy, fun side of Halfpipe is the fashion and other than the addition of red boxing gloves last season, James prefers normal snowboard gear.  

“Snowboarders have the opportunity to wear whatever they like. We don’t have uniforms or anything like that apart from Olympics. You can dress however you want. That’s a fun aspect and gives people the opportunity to do what they want.”

“I totally get it,” he says of some of the more flamboyant gear. “It attracts kids to the sport. When I was a kid, I was dressing absolutely ridiculously.”

Not so ridiculous are the now signature red boxing gloves, giving the nod to Australia’s famous sporting icon – the Boxing Kangaroo.

The Australian Olympic Team’s official glove supplier and manufacturer XTM has come to the party designing a combined snow and boxing glove for James to wear in PyeongChang.

Away from the limelight, hard work was how James spent the Australian winter in Warrandyte and at twice-daily endurance and fitness sessions.

“Preparation has been about spending a lot of time at the VIS (Victorian Institute of Sport) and utilising that as much as possible.”

“I miss being home, seeing my family. I really am a home body and love Warrandyte - seeing all my friends and just doing normal things like going out for breakfast and playing with my dog.”

“Having a pipe here (in Australia) would be something I’d like to work on over the years to potentially make that happen. It would be fantastic for the kids.”

For now, there’s a busy competition schedule in run-up to PyeongChang. James will begin his season at the Copper Mountain FIS World Cup this Sunday morning 5am (AEDT), then the Dew Tour event at Breckenridge and possibly two more World Cups before defending his X Games title before PyeongChang.

Scotty James will be joined at Copper Mountain by fellow Aussies Nate Johnstone and Kent Callister. 18-year-old Emily Arthur, who is looking to making her Olympic debut next February, will also be in the starting line up in the Women’s event.

Watch all the action live on Eurosport from 5.00am (AEDT).
 
Belinda Noonan
OWIA




Comments are closed.

    ATHLETES

    All
    Abi Harrigan
    Allie Hickman
    Ally Hickman
    Amelie Haskell
    Anna Segal
    Britt Cox Moguls
    Cameron Waddell
    Daisy Thomas
    Emily Arthur
    Holly Crawford
    Jesse Parkinson
    Jessica Rich
    Joey Elliss
    Joshua Robertson Hahn
    Joshua Robertson-Hahn
    Kai Martin
    Kent Callister
    Mahala Mullins
    Matthew Cox
    Meila Stalker
    Misaki Vaughan
    Nathan Johnstone
    Paige Jones
    Russ Henshaw
    Sascha Elvy
    Scotty James
    Tess Coady
    Torah Bright
    Valentino Guseli

    ARCHIVES

    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    August 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    August 2010

    RSS Feed

Picture
OLYMPIC WINTER INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA
​

CONTACT
​
O'Brien Icehouse
Level 2
105 Pearl River Road
Docklands, VIC 3008
Australia

P
hone: +61 3 9686 2977

ABOUT                 
OWIA History
Executive & Staff
Policies & Documents 
Sponsors & Partners
OWIA Calendar

Australian Sports Foundation
North American Medical
Media Center


SPORT INTEGRITY
​
​SITE MAP

AERIAL SKIING
News
ALPINE SKIING
News
​
MOGUL SKIING
News
PARK & PIPE
News
SNOWBOARD CROSS
News

INDIVIDUAL ATHLETES
News


Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture

​Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy  |  2024 © Olympic Winter Institute of Australia  All rights reserved