Scotty James wins gold with one of the greatest halfpipe runs of all time

Scotty James has made an incredible start to the season, performing one of the finest runs in halfpipe history to score an amazing 99.00 points from the judges to win gold at the World Cup event in Copper Mountain, USA.

The two-time Olympic medallist, three-time World Champion had the two highest scoring runs of the day, posting a 97 point first run, and went even better in run two with a massive score of 99 from the judges. With the win guaranteed, James performed a victory lap for his third and final run, high fiving the crowd on his way down the halfpipe to the finish line.

James’ run included a switch McTwist to start, followed by a cab double cork 1440, frontside 1080, cab 900 and switch backside double cork 1260 to finish, giving James the seventh World Cup victory of his career.

“It's definitely the highest score I have ever gotten in my life, and I am not going to lie, it might be one of the most satisfying runs I have ever done in my life,” said the 28-year-old from Warrandyte in Victoria.

“We worked pretty hard on the switch McTwist and I have to say I feel like I got some soul back.

"The progression is so rapid these days, and I am really happy to be a part of that, but I also thought that I wanted to make some new additions with some creativity, and as we would say as snowboarders get the soul.”

“It was an amazing day, awesome event, everyone rode incredible and see you at the next one.”

Behind James on the podium was Swiss rider Jan Scherrer with a best run of 96.25 points and Kaishu Hirano of Japan in third with a score of 88.25.

Australian teen sensation Valentino Guseli, who won his first ever World Cup event last week in Big Air, made a strong start in his first halfpipe event of the season qualifying for finals in second place, but had to settle for seventh in the final with his best score of 82.50 coming in his first run.

The next World Cup halfpipe event in the new year in Laax, Switzerland, on January 21.