Scotty James to make triumphant return home to Warrandyte with his Winter Olympics bronze

SNOWBOARD sensation Scotty James can’t wait to get back home and see his mates after somersaulting his way into history at the Winter Olympics last week.

Warrandyte’s Scotty James took out bronze in the men's snowboard half-pipe at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang this week. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

WARRANDYTE Wonder Scotty James can’t wait to get back home and see his mates after somersaulting his way into history at the Winter Olympics last week.

James claimed bronze in the men’s snowboard half-pipe to make him just the 14th Australian to win a medal at the Games.

He celebrated immediately after the event with girlfriend Ivy Miller, dad Phil and mum Celia in PyeongChang.

It was the 23-year-old world champion’s first medal in his third Games and the first time Australia has hailed a men’s snowboard medallist.

James said after the event every day on the snow was a celebration.

“Now I want to go home to my beloved Warrandyte and see my friends and family that I haven’t seen in a long time and really enjoy this,” he said.

“It was really cool, I’m still getting my emotions together. Honestly it feels like a gold to me.

“After years and years this has all come to fruition at the right time, I’ve been working so hard. It all came out and I put the run down I wanted.”

James got his medal with his first run of 92 points but ultimately couldn’t match the silky skills of champion American Shaun White, who snatched the gold with his last run of 97.75. Japan’s Ayumu Hirano was second with 95.25 points.

James couldn’t finish his third and final run but the medal was already in the bag.

The billing of the best three men’s half-pipe riders on the planet certainly lived up to the hype and the gold medal was very much on the line going into the final run.

White came up with the goods, capturing his third Games half-pipe gold on the last run of competition as he overtook young gun Hirano.

Second last down the ‘pipe, James had his chance to move further up the podium but dragged his arm in his second run and fell on his final effort.