Yuto Totsuka of Japan stole the show Friday night in Italy, putting down an immaculate run to thwart Aussie Scotty James' fifth-Games summit to gold and win arguably the most progressive halfpipe contest in snowboarding history at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
The 2021 world champion opened with back-to-back triple cork 1440s and closed with a pair of double corks to score a 95.00, overtaking James' 93.50 for the lead. James rode last with a chance to reclaim it, but fell while trying to upgrade his final hit to a 1620.
"If I was to lose to anyone, Yuto was the one," James said. "Yuto worked so hard. I always see him there at training. I was anticipating such a good battle with him, and he came out on top. So congrats to him."
Totsuka's teammates Ryusei Yamada and Ruka Hirano finish 3rd (for bronze) and 4th, while 2022 Beijing Games gold medalist Ayumu Hirano was 7th. Compare that result to the event's inaugural 1998 Nagano Olympics, when Japanese riders finished 28th, 30th, 34th and 36th in a field of 36.
James sought gold in Italy after bronze in PyeongChang and silver in Beijing, calling it the "elephant in the room" in a recent documentary. The 31-year-old entered as the reigning champion at Worlds, Winter X Games (last five) and Laax World Cup (last two).
Americans Jake Pates, Alessandro Barbieri and Chase Josey placed a respective 8th, 10th and 11th. For the first time, the U.S. has missed the men's snowboard halfpipe podium at two straight Olympics; the Americans made four straight from the event's debut in 1998 through 2010.
Ten of the 12 riders Friday attempted or landed a triple cork. Just four years ago, only Ayumu Hirano put down the trick in the Olympic final. What's more, Totsuka became the third rider to land a switch backside 1440 in competition, following Ruka Hirano in December and James in January.
Japan has completely dominated the snowboard park and pipe events at Milan Cortina, claiming three of four golds (men's halfpipe plus men's and women's big air) so far and half of the 12 medals awarded, with slopestyle remaining.
Three-time gold medalist Shaun White watched Friday's final from the base — the first Olympics since 2002 without him in the pipe. White wrapped up his legendary Games career at the 2022 Beijing Games, finishing just off the podium in 4th.
What comes next for James?
"I'll keep riding and the show goes on," he said. "I'll show my [16-month-old] son this medal. He won't know what it is tomorrow morning, but I'll be proud to show it to him. That's it, just keep riding on to the next one."
Men's Snowboard Halfpipe Final
🥇 Yuto Totsuka, Japan (95.00)
🥈 Scotty James, Australia (93.50)
🥉 Ryusei Yamada, Japan (92.00)
4. Ruka Hirano, Japan (91.00)
5. Valentino Guseli, Australia (88.00)
6. Chaeun Lee, South Korea (87.50)
7. Ayumu Hirnao, Japan (86.50)
8. Jake Pates, United States (77.50)
9. Wang Ziyang, China (76.00)
10. Alessandro Barbieri, United States (75.00)
11. Chase Josey, United States (70.25)
12. Cam Melville Ives, New Zealand (43.00)