Scotty James has carved an unconventional path to stardom — from growing up in the distinctly snow-less Warrandyte to winning silver at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games at 28 years old. It’s a path that’s front and centre in a new Netflix documentary, “Scotty James: Pipe Dream,” that’s set to release on Friday, December 19.
Charting his beginnings in the snowsports game when he was just six years old, rising the ranks to surpass his once idols and going all the way to the present day as he looks ahead to the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games — the documentary is filled with footage from throughout his career, including never-before-seen home videos and interviews with the people who know him best.
“Go from being 13 straight into the men’s category, I was the best, and then I was the worst…I was riding on talent mode basically. I’m fucking wasting time. I’m not working hard…I just stripped everything back and I went for it” James says in the trailer, referencing the transition into the professional sports world after his childhood success.
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James is regarded as one of the world’s best professional snowboarders, having competed in four Winter Olympic Games, but his ultimate goal remains unachieved: to win a gold medal. He won bronze in 2018 and came closer with his silver medal in 2022, but James aims to bring home the gold; Australia has only seen an athlete win one gold medal in the last three Winter Olympic Games.
Where James has found more success is in X Games, where he has won seven gold medals, two silver and two bronze medals since first participating in 2016 at the age of 22.
His ties to the sports world run through his personal life too, becoming the brother-in-law of Aston Martin F1 driver Lance Stroll in 2023 through his wife Chloe, who also features heavily in the documentary.
“Scotty James: Pipe Dream” is produced by Front Office Sports, and will release on Netflix on Friday, December 19. Watch the trailer above.