Scotty JAMES

HELMET DESIGN
His helmet for the 2020/21 season was designed by child cancer patients. (YouTube, 6 Oct 2020)

FAMILY TEAM
Brother Tim works as his strength and conditioning trainer and wax technician. Brother Sean travels full-time as his videographer. Sister Rachel works as his brand and communications manager. (Red Bull YouTube, 7 Feb 2019; trulyaus.com, 9 Jun 2020)

YOUNGEST OLYMPIAN
After Australian teammate Nate Johnstone was ruled out of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games through injury, James was given 48 hours to get from Australia to Stoneham, QC, Canada to attempt to qualify for the Olympic squad. Needing a top-20 result at the World Cup event, he achieved a career-best 15th, securing his spot for Vancouver. At age 15, he was the youngest male competitor at Vancouver in 2010, and the youngest male athlete from any nation to compete at the Olympic Winter Games in 50 years. (owia.org, 14 Feb 2020)

STARTING YOUNG
At age 13, travelled with his coach to Switzerland, with the dream of becoming a professional snowboarder. That dream became a reality a year later when he secured his first major sponsors. Made his Olympic Winter Games debut a year later (2010) at age 15. “I left my family to help make the decision about whether I was going to pursue snowboarding professionally or not. I remember being nervous and unsure of what I was getting myself into. I remember when I was younger, I would get a little bit sad having to leave home and school and that bit of normality in my life, but I’m very grateful for it because if I didn’t do that and make that commitment, I wouldn’t be where I am now.” (icon.ink, 27 Jan 2019; espn.com.au, 18 Dec 2017)

LEARNING FROM FAILURE
After an undefeated 2018/19 season and consistent victories in 2019/20, a third-place finish at the 2020 US Open in Vail changed his outlook. “There was a point where nobody could beat me. I was winning so much that it just became like my default. But I’d be lying if I said it felt as good as the first time I ever won. Of course, it’s always a huge accomplishment, but that shine does wear off. Then at the end of the season? I lost. It was so hard to swallow at the time but now, I can see that I needed that."

“For me, I think a lot of what makes winning satisfying is actually the process of climbing to the top, and the challenge. And now I get to do that again and chase that winning feeling. So yeah, losing can really be a blessing in disguise. It can help you reconnect with the reasons you’re doing something in the first place.” (redbull.com, 28 Aug 2020)

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
Released a web series called ‘All Day SJ’, a seven-part mockumentary, following his day-to-day life. Described it as being “a good combination of life as an athlete and good comedic spin.” Features cameos from F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), three-time surfing world champion Mick Fanning (AUS), and skateboarding legend Tony Hawk (USA). Hinted there may be a second season. (redbull.com, 24 Apr 2018; trulyaus.com, 9 Jun 2020; zeitblatt.com, 1 May 2020)

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
Dating Chloe Stroll, daughter of Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, owner of the Aston Martin Formula 1 racing team. Chloe’s brother Lance races for the team. Due to his close friendship with McLaren driver Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), watching F1 races together can often be contentious. (trulyaus.com, 9 Jun 2020; Twitter, 3 May 2020)

BIG PICTURE
“I’ve always been really competitive, and obviously I’ve won a bunch over the course of my life. But I don’t think that’s really what ‘success’ is. I think ‘being successful’ is about all the small things in life, and about doing all of those small things well. Just having dinner with your family, or going camping, or just having a good relationship with your mum and dad or your siblings – if you’re not taking the time for that stuff, none of the other stuff really matters anyway."

“I hope to have kids one day and all I want for them is to give them the same opportunities I had growing up, and to teach them about all of those simple things. For me, that’s what being successful means.” (redbull.com, 28 Aug 2020)

© Data by Sports Data Warehouse

OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Beijing 2022 silver medallist in halfpipe.

When he made his Olympic Winter Games debut at age 15 at Vancouver 2010, he was the youngest male competitor at those Games, and the youngest male athlete from any nation to compete at the Olympic Winter Games in 50 years.

In his third Olympic Winter Games at PyeongChang 2018, he won the halfpipe bronze medal behind gold medallist Shaun White (USA), and was 3.25 points behind the silver medallist Ayumu Hirano (JPN).

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
First male snowboarder to win three World Championships (2015, 2017, 2019). Won silver in 2021 (Aspen).

WORLD CUP
At the end of the 2020/21 season, he had six World Cup podium wins, including at Secret Garden in 2019. His first was in PyeongChang in 2017.

OTHER
Became the first person to land a switch backside double cork 1260 at the Snowmass Grand Prix in January 2018.

Won seven X Games medals, four gold (2022, 2020, 2019 and 2017), two silver (2021 and 2018), one bronze (2016).