By Annie Fast
LIVIGNO, Italy – For nearly two decades, the icy walls of the Olympic halfpipe have served as the canvas for Scotty James’s evolution. From a wide-eyed 15-year-old debutant at Vancouver 2010 to a seasoned veteran sporting the recognizable red boxing gloves, the Australian snowboarder has become synonymous with consistency, amplitude, and technical precision.
Now 31, James arrives at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games with a singular, burning ambition: to complete the set. Having secured bronze at PyeongChang 2018 and silver at Beijing 2022, the gold medal remains the only accolade missing from his formidable trophy cabinet.
In an exclusive interview with Olympics.com, James opened up about the pressure, the progression of the sport, and the “elephant in the room” that drives his every turn.
“The elephant in the room for me is I haven’t won a gold medal yet,” James admits with the candor of an athlete who knows his window is open, but perhaps not forever. “I’m driven. I want to finish what I started.”
A Veteran in Peak Form
James enters these Games not as an aging underdog, but as the man to beat. His lead-up to Milano Cortina has been nothing short of dominant. Just weeks ago, he successfully defended his title at the prestigious Laax Open World Cup, a victory that silenced doubters who questioned if he could keep pace with the sport’s rapid technical evolution. He followed that performance by capturing his fifth consecutive X Games gold medal in Aspen, arriving in Italy with a momentum that few in the field can match.+1
This recent run of form has instilled a “renewed confidence” in the Australian. Unlike previous cycles where he may have felt the need to chase the trick of the month, James expresses a “deep comfort” in his current halfpipe approach. He isn’t just riding to compete; he is riding on his own terms.
However, the path to the top of the podium at Livigno Snow Park is fraught with peril. The field standing between James and his gold medal is arguably the deepest and most dangerous in Olympic history.
The Japanese Juggernaut and the Triple Cork Era
The spectre of Beijing 2022 looms large over these Games. It was there that Japan’s Hirano Ayumu edged James for gold in a dramatic final, unveiling the triple cork 1440—a trick involving three off-axis flips and four full rotations—to seal the victory.
Hirano returns to defend his title, though his preparation has been far from ideal. The reigning champion sustained an injury at Laax, leaving questions about his physical readiness. Yet, even a wounded Hirano is a formidable threat, and he is backed by a Japanese contingent that has become the envy of the snowboarding world. Teammates Totsuka Yuto and Yamada Ryusei have both stood atop World Cup podiums this season, proving that the Japanese pipeline of talent is overflowing.+1
But the challenge doesn’t end with Japan. A fearless new generation has emerged, one that views the triple cork not as a groundbreaking anomaly, but as a standard requirement for entry.
Among the new guard is 19-year-old New Zealander Cam Melville Ives, who will be making his Olympic debut. Melville Ives has turned heads by landing back-to-back triple cork 1440s in practice, a feat of stamina and aerial awareness that signals a new frontier in halfpipe riding. Then there is Team USA’s 17-year-old prodigy Alessandro Barbieri, whose riding has already garnered praise from the legendary Shaun White.+1
Perhaps the most intriguing rival, however, comes from within James’s own camp. Valentino Guseli, the 20-year-old Australian phenomenon, combines record-breaking amplitude with a technical arsenal that rivals anyone in the world. The dynamic between the veteran James and the young gun Guseli adds a layer of intra-team rivalry that will be fascinating to watch unfold.
The “Winning Formula”: Style Over Spin?
In the face of this “spin-to-win” revolution, where adding another 180 degrees of rotation is often seen as the only path to victory, Scotty James is doubling down on a different philosophy.
James believes he holds the “winning formula,” and surprisingly, he insists it extends beyond just the triple cork 1440. For James, the future of halfpipe riding isn’t just about how many times you can flip, but how you do it.
“I’ve always been committed to a technical style of snowboarding,” James told Olympics.com.
This “technical style” refers to the quality of execution—the height out of the pipe (amplitude), the grab holding throughout the rotation, the landing, and the variety of the run. While others may rush to land the triple cork, potentially sacrificing height or style, James focuses on making difficult tricks look effortless. His signature switch backside 1260, often performed with unmatched height and a distinct lack of “flailing,” is a testament to this approach.
James is betting that the judges at Milano Cortina will reward a run that blends high-difficulty technicality with superior execution and flow, rather than a run that is simply a gymnastics display on snow. It is a calculated risk in a sport that often rewards the newest, shiniest toy, but James has the experience to back it up.
The Legacy of Longevity
Milano Cortina 2026 marks James’s fifth Olympic Games, a staggering achievement in a sport known for its high impact and short careers. To put this in perspective, when James made his debut in Vancouver, the iPhone 3GS was the latest technology and many of his current competitors were still in diapers.
Over 16 years, he has seen the halfpipe evolve from 18-foot walls to 22-foot superpipes. He has seen the standard trick progress from a 1080 to a 1440 and now the triple cork. Through it all, he has adapted, survived, and thrived.
“I’ve learned and progressed with each appearance,” James reflects. The heartbreak of Sochi 2014, where he finished 21st, fuelled the rise that led to his bronze in 2018. The near-miss of silver in 2022 has now set the stage for 2026.
This longevity has given James a perspective that his younger rivals lack. He understands the unique pressure of the Olympic cauldron. He knows that the qualifying rounds are about survival, and the final is about perfection. He knows how to manage his energy over a grueling week of practice and competition.
The Final Countdown
As the snowboarders descend on Livigno, the narrative is clear. On one side, the explosive energy of youth and the raw power of the triple cork revolution. On the other, the refined mastery of Scotty James, a man who has spent half his life chasing a dream that is now within touching distance.
For James, a gold medal would be the capstone to a Hall of Fame career. It would complete his Olympic collection and validate his philosophy of technical snowboarding. But even without it, his legacy as one of Australia’s greatest winter athletes is secure.
Yet, listening to him speak, it is clear that “secure” is not enough. Scotty James is not in Italy for a victory lap. He is here for the fight.
“I’m driven,” he reiterates, his eyes fixed on the halfpipe that awaits.
Whether he spins his way to gold or bows out to the next generation, one thing is certain: Scotty James will leave everything on the snow in pursuit of the one prize that has eluded him. And in doing so, he may just remind the world why he has been the king of the halfpipe for so long.