Scotty
James
Australia
·
Snowboarding
Date of birth | June 7, 1994 |
|---|---|
Birthplace | Melbourne |
Age | 31 |
Nationality | Australia |
Career start | 2010 |
Disciplines | Snowboard Halfpipe |
It's not often that you hear of Australians being into winter sports, but Scotty James is one of the few. In fact, in 2010, he became the youngest athlete to compete at the Winter Games in more than 50 years.
So, how did the rider from Melbourne pull it off? Snowboarding from the age of three definitely helped. They don’t even make snowboards small enough for three-year-olds, but when his dad saw a mini toy snowboard in a shop window, he bought it. Little did the shop owner realise that the 80cm board would be a stepping stone for James to achieve so much in the sport.
He broke onto the international circuit in 2008 and has been tearing up the likes of the FIS World Cup, the Burton European Open and Winter X Games ever since.
But it hasn't been easy. James has a condition that causes his knee to randomly dislocate – not ideal for a professional snowboarder. But when you take into account that he competed in the 2010 Winter Games with a fractured wrist, it's clear why nothing has stopped him from reaching the top of his game.
Gaining wins and breaking records
His track record is full of gold medals and big event wins. In 2019, he set a new record for consecutive world titles by taking halfpipe gold at the World Championship in Park City, Utah, while in 2020, he secured victory at the Laax Open and the X Games.
In 2021, James stood on the podium numerous times, and the following year, he secured a silver medal at the halfpipe event in Beijing, China. That was an upgrade on the bronze he won four years earlier in Pyeongchang. In 2022, he also scored a stunning 99-point halfpipe run (the second-highest in history) at the season opener at Copper Mountain.
2023 started with more success as James claimed halfpipe gold at the X Games in Aspen. The following hear he maintained his incredible Winter X Games SuperPipe record with his sixth win in eight years. He also added a new title in 2024 when he became a Dad for the first time.
Adding to his medal collection
Not that the lack of sleep seems to have affected his athletic endeavours. James may be getting older but he's also getting better, challenging younger generations. He became the first male snowboarder to win four consecutive Halfpipe crowns at the 2025 Winter X Games in Aspen, while also taking home the win from that year's Laax Open and being crowned World Champion in the halfpipe at St Moritz.
James then kicked off 2026 in style by dominating the competition at the Laax Open. No one else stood a chance as the experienced Aussie earned a huge score of 98.75 points to claim the halfpipe title for the fifth time.
Later in the year, while competing at his fifth Winter Games, James became Australia's most decorated winter athlete after winning a silver medal in the halfpipe event in Milan-Cortina.
Career highlights:
- Becoming Australia's youngest male Olympian in 50 years, aged just 15, at the 2020 Winter Games
- Earning a near-perfect score of 99.00 in the men's final of the US Snowboarding Grand Prix – the second-highest score in FIS history (2022)
- Winning a fourth World Championship gold medal in the halfpipe event (2025)
- Securing his eighth X Games gold medal in the halfpipe, matching the longtime record held by Shaun White (2026)
- Becoming Australia's most decorated winter athlete after winning a third medal (silver) at the Games in Milan-Cortina (2026)
Scotty James is rarely seen without his lucky red boxing gloves
© Brett Hemmings/Red Bull Content Pool
James has been defying gravity and dominating halfpipe for years
© Lorenz Richard/Red Bull Content Pool
Scotty James
© Daniel Milchev/Red Bull Content Pool
Scotty James in the Superpipe
© Christian Pondella/Red Bull Content Pool
