Scotty James has won back-to-back halfpipe world titles with an emphatic victory at the FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships on Sunday morning.
The title winning performance came in his second run, 97.50 points – his highest score of the season.
“Fair to say it’s a good feeling to put the first one down because you can feel a bit more comfortable to move forward,” James said.
“I was happy with the first score but obviously felt I could improve so 97 was really nice,” he said.
It is now a Winter Olympics gold medal that remains as the only major title the 22-year-old hasn’t yet claimed.
“The aim is to make the most of every halfpipe I get to ride and try and learn some new things because the next 11 months is huge for most of the riders because they’re all very hungry for what everyone wants and that’s a gold medal.”
The 22 year old from Warrandyte has been competing at the elite level since the age of 15.
Aerial skiing duo Danielle Scott and David Morris also snared medals at the World Championships in Spain.
Scott claimed silver and Morris took bronze under lights in Sierra Nevada on the same night where defending champion Laura Peel, Samantha Wells and Lydia Lassila, placed 8th, 10th & 11th respectively.
Runner-up Scott (94.47 points) led the event after her penultimate jump, performing a triple-twisting double somersault in the final round. The eventual winner, American Ashley Caldwell (109.25 points) claimed victory after laying down a triple-triple.
“It was a bit of a heartbreaker not taking home the globe this season… but my goal was to come out here and do everything I could to be my best so I’ve got to be pleased with that,” Scott said.
32-year-old Morris hadn’t seen the podium throughout the World Cup season, it was his final round jump which landed himself a bronze medal.
“That last jump (quad-twisting triple) was the first time I’d done it this season because I haven’t practised all that much because I’ve had a couple of injuries and all these other problems,” Morris said.
The result has motivated Morris to push towards next year’s Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
“I’m excited for the next year, I know the competition is going to be good as shown today”.
