By Nick Butler

Scotty James of Australia took the men's halfpipe title ©AFP/Getty ImagesThere was more success for Australia and China today at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships in Kreischberg, as Scotty James and Cai Xuetong each claimed halfpipe snowboard glory.


James, who first competed on the international circuit six years ago aged 14, earned 91.50 points in the rain on his first run, and, with none of his rivals able to match it, was guaranteed gold before he had even started his second attempt.

Instead of trying to better that score, he used his second run as a celebratory jaunt, exchanging high fives with spectators along the pipe.

It represented his first major title, and an improvement on fifth place at the 2013 event in Stoneham-et-Tewkesbury.

Zhang Yiwei of China won silver with 89.50, and Tim-Kevin Ravnjak of Slovenia took bronze with 89.25, while defending world and Olympic champion Iouri Podladtchikov of Switzerland placed fourth in his first competition since Sochi 2014. 

But China went one better in the women's competition as Cai triumphed with a superb 94.25 points, to follow her World Junior Championship gold from 2009.

Cai Xuetong of China celebrates halfpipe gold ©AFP/Getty ImagesCai Xuetong of China celebrates halfpipe gold ©AFP/Getty Images



There was a heavy European presence elsewhere on the podium, as Queralt Castellet of Spain took silver and Clemence Grimal of France the bronze.

Sochi 2014 silver medallist Torah Bright of Australia, considered by many the pre-event favourite, could only finish sixth and last in the final.

The focus will return to skiing events tomorrow with freestyle moguls action in the Austrian resort. 

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