Australian snowboarder Scotty James wins halfpipe gold to surpass Shaun White

Australia’s Scotty James surpassed legendary American snowboarder Shaun White by becoming the first man to win four consecutive X Games gold medals in the halfpipe in Aspen on Sunday (AEDT).

In an awe-inspiring run featuring the McTwist first hit, cab triple cork 1440, frontside 1260, backside 1080 and switch back 1200, James racked up a monumental score of 96.33 points to blow his rivals out of the halfpipe.

The two-time Olympic medallist hauled in 96.33 points with his first run of the final, then had the luxury of a “victory lap” having already guaranteed himself the gold medal.

LIVE UPDATES: Australian Open 2025, day 13 results and highlights

READ MORE: Djokovic jeered by crowd as he leaves arena after quitting semi-final

READ MORE: ‘Hot-headed, upset’ Djokovic explains stunning walk-off

“Just winning a gold medal is amazing here at X Games, and to do four in a row, I am absolutely speechless,” James said.

“The triple cork is the one; it’s the trick I feel you have to have in the mix to have any intention of making any damage on the podium. So to put it in my run and do it, switch and try and put in my own flare at the start, too, feels good for the soul.”

James hauled in his seventh X Games gold medal under lights in Colorado.

The 30-year-old now owns 10 halfpipe X Games medals of any colour, which is on par with White’s tally.

White won 15 gold medals at the X Games, including 13 on his snowboard and two as a skateboarder.

In Aspen on Sunday (AEDT), silver was picked up by Yuto Totsuka (93.66 points) as fellow Japanese rider Ayumu Hirano grabbed bronze with a score of 92.33 points.

James’ X Games heroics followed his World Cup triumph at the Laax Open in Switzerland last weekend.

The Victorian will likely be among Australia’s leading performers at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, to be held in the Italian Alps in February next year.