Australian snowboarder Scotty James has produced one of the best runs of his impressive halfpipe career, to claim the gold medal at the Laax Open in Switzerland.
The 30-year-old from Warrandyte in Victoria proved once again why he is considered to be one of the greatest competitors in the history of snowboarding by stepping up his second and final attempt to put down a run that included a massive switch frontside triple cork 1440 on his way to a score of 95.75 and his 10th career World Cup victory.
His win was his fourth victory in Laax as well as the seventh time he has finished on the Laax podium since 2017.
In the best of two run night final, the two-time Olympic medallist opened with a score of 88.75 points, then stepped it up in the final run to put down a spectacular performance that included a massive switch frontside triple cork 1440 on his way to a huge score of 95.75.
James took the win ahead of Japanese rider Ruka Hirano’s score of 93.75, while compatriot and reigning Olympic halfpipe champion Ayumu Hirano was third with a run one score of 87.00.
“I think it might be one of the best moments of my competitive career” said the 30-year-old from Warrandyte in Victoria.
“It’s always challenging to win, but this year I feel like I have been put on the ropes quite a bit from the other competitors, especially the Japanese, they are riding incredible.
“Not for a second did I think it was a done deal until the last rider went because any rider could have won.”
The victory puts James move into equal first place on the World Cup standings alongside Yuto Totsuka of Japan on 230 points.
James will now head to Aspen, USA, to compete in the X-Games on January 23, where he will be aiming to win an incredible fourth straight and record breaking seventh career X-Games gold medal.
