Scotty James claims hat-trick on Park City pipe

BySportsbeat

Updated 08/02/2019 at 22:46 GMT

PyeongChang bronze medallist Scotty James delivered on expectation as he claimed halfpipe gold at the FIS Snowboard World Championships in Park City.

Scotty James of Australia poses for a photo after winning his third Men's Snowboard Halfpipe Final of the FIS Snowboard World Championships on February 08, 2019 at Park City Mountain Resort in Park City, Utah

Image credit: Getty Images

The Australian, who has so far won every competition he has entered this season, comfortably topping the overall World Cup standings, went into the Utah competition as red-hot favourite, with two world titles already to his name.

And it was quickly apparent that the 24-year-old would not baulk under the pressures of expectation, laying down a massive 94.25 points in his first run.

But the favourite saved his best for last, topping his total to record a massive 97.50 score, a feat that James himself couldn’t quite get his head around.

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Scotty James of Australia competes in the Men's Snowboard Halfpipe Final of the FIS Snowboard World Championships on February 08, 2019 at Park City Mountain Resort in Park City, Utah

Image credit: Getty Images

"I was pinching myself when I won my second world title, and I'm triple pinching myself now that I've won my third one, it's absolutely amazing," he said.

"The level of riding was incredible, I was on my toes, I knew those last two guys behind me had a lot in them to pull it together, so I just wanted to land that run and do it the way I wanted to, so I'm over the moon."

James finished clear of Japan’s Yuto Totsuka (92.25) in second and Patrick Burgener (91.25) in third.

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