SNOWBOARD HALFPIPE: Scotty James has continued his rise in world snowboarding, winning his first ever World Cup medal, and in doing so - been crowned the overall Halfpipe World Cup Champion for 2013/14.

With the Sochi 2014 Olympics now just 19 days away, the podium finish is a confidence boost for the Victorian snowboarder, who was the youngest male athlete at the whole Vancouver Games four years ago.

James was the ninth rider to drop into the pipe, and pulled a score of 55.00. He needed to lift in the second heat - and lift he did.

James put together a frontside lien, backside 540 mute, frontside 1080 tail, cab 1080 double cork indy and a frontside double - scoring 84.50 for his efforts.

Japanese rider Ryo Aono took out the event with 92.00 and Switzerland's Jan Scherrer was second on 85.25.

The medal elevated James to the top of the Halfpipe leader board for the 2013/14 season, sitting ahead of France's Johann Baisamy and Japan's Aono.

In the three Halfpipe World Cups contested this season, James was sixth, sixth and now third - giving him a total of 1400 points, 38 points clear of Baisamy.

"So stoked to come out with a 3rd in halfpipe finals today and to be crowned the 2013/14 FIS World Halfpipe Champion!" James tweeted.

James paid credit to his brother Tim and his coach Abe Teter, thanking them for their hard work behind the scenes: "Couldn't have done it without you!"

James will now prepare to take to the Stoneham snow again, with the Slopestyle semi-final on Sunday 19 January, local Candadian time.