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Scotty James Claims Laax Open, Eyes Olympic Gold

1/18/2026

31 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Australian snowboarder Scotty James won the Laax Open halfpipe with 98.75 points, his fifth title.
The win strengthens James's bid for Olympic gold at Milano-Cortina, after Beijing silver (2022) and PyeongChang bronze (2018).
James led a podium sweep for Australia and New Zealand, with Valentino Guseli finishing third.
Bree Walker earned silver in the final World Cup monobob race, finishing second overall as both head to the Olympics.

History

Historical Context

The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics highlighted snowboarding's global appeal, with Scotty James earning a silver medal and 15 nations competing. This follows a trend of increasing investment in winter sports, as seen in Australia's success and New Zealand's athletes like Valentino Guseli. The rise of snowboarding may influence future Olympic medal counts and athlete development strategies, reflecting its growing prominence.

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Story summary

Australian snowboarder Scotty James won the Laax Open halfpipe with 98.75 points, his fifth title.
The win strengthens James's bid for Olympic gold at Milano-Cortina, after Beijing silver (2022) and PyeongChang bronze (2018).
James led a podium sweep for Australia and New Zealand, with Valentino Guseli finishing third.
Bree Walker earned silver in the final World Cup monobob race, finishing second overall as both head to the Olympics.

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