After a long lead up to the Winter Olympics, silver medallist Scotty James is enjoying summer in Monaco.
The Australian snowboarding superstar now calls the glitzy city-state on the French Riviera home, alongside fiancee and F1 heir Chloe Stroll and their adorable dog, Jack Bauer.
As the four-time Olympian heads back to the United States for training, he reflects on his recent achievements.
"It's been an incredible, whirlwind, 18 months," James told ABC Sport.
"A lot of things have happened both personally and on the accolade side of my profession."
The 27-year-old claimed a silver medal in the half-pipe at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and won a gold medal at the X Games in Aspen, a month earlier.
In November 2021, in between training for the Winter Games, James proposed to Stroll on Switzerland's snow slopes.
Stroll is a Canadian singer/songwriter and the daughter of Lawrence Stroll – a billionaire businessman and part-owner of the Aston Martin F1 Team.
Her brother Lance Stroll is a Formula One driver for the luxury British sports car manufacturer.
A $10 display board
While James's journey as a budding snowboard prodigy from Melbourne to global superstar is well known, he admits there are moments he still pinches himself.
"From getting my first snowboard, to now living here in Monaco — it's strange," he said.
By the age of six, James was already competing.
It was the only board small enough for him to ride.
"It would be nice if I could buy my snowboards now for $10," he laughed.
"But it was a good investment."
It certainly was. At 15, James was the youngest male to compete at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
He created history as the first Australian male to win a snowboard Olympic medal at PyeongChang 2018 when he took bronze.
James went on to become a triple world champion, Crystal Globe winner and US Open champion.
Between 2019 and 2020, he claimed a podium finish in all seven events he competed in.
But despite winning gold in all other snowboarding competitions, Olympic gold remains elusive.
Bittersweet silver
James came agonisingly close at the 2022 Beijing Games, only to be pipped by Japan's Ayumu Hirano in what has been described as one of the best Olympic half-pipe finals of all-time.
"I obviously was going for gold as I do in all my events, but the margin between first and second is like the blink of an eye."
It has made James more determined for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games in Italy.
While qualifying for a fifth Winter games would be an achievement, the nation hosting the next Winter Olympics could already be a good omen.
James and Stroll plan to marry in Italy next year.
"It's one of our favourite places," James said.
The location is yet to be confirmed but he seemed receptive to my suggestion of Positano on the Amalfi Coast.
"Ah yes," he said.
"Among all these sporting questions, she [Chloe] would be very happy that we are having this conversation."
Starting the mental health conversation
Another conversation James is passionate about is mental health.
"It is a huge topic for me, and I would like to think that I am quite open to talking about mental health," James said.
James admits the pressure he felt as a 15-year-old trying to qualify for his first Olympics was immense and isolating.
"I felt like I lost my soul and my passion for it, and that I was doing it for the wrong intentions."
As a teenager, James said he was also dealing with a range of physical and emotional changes.
"I had an ego towards myself," he said.
According to Beyond Blue, around one in eight men will experience depression and one in five men will experience anxiety at some stage of their lives.
"I think in a way it has become old fashioned not to talk about how you feel," James said.
"But unfortunately, in some environments, it could still be considered 'weak or unstable'."
During that difficult period, James had times when he doubted himself and did not feel capable of delivering what was expected.
He credits the unconditional support of his family for getting him through that difficult period but also urges anyone who needs professional help to seek it.
"I would encourage any athlete or anyone in life to have someone they can talk to."
It has given James the clarity to embrace fear and failure alongside confidence and success.
"When I hang my boots up, I know I will have done everything I possibly could for myself and the sport."
Thankfully, retirement is still a long way off.
As James looks forward to the future, he also reflects on the past and the advice the 27-year-old would now give to his 15-year-old self.
"Firstly, I'd say 'Whoa, you did way better than I thought you would.'
