James Johnstone is a snowboard cross athlete who was awarded a Tier 2 Scholarship in the 2026 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program.
Born in Melbourne in 2004 and raised in Sydney, James first strapped into a snowboard at Mt Hotham at the age of seven. What started as family trips to the snow quickly grew into a passion for racing and a determination to compete at the highest level.
Snowboard cross is a fast-paced and unpredictable event, with athletes racing head-to-head down a course stacked with jumps, rollers, and tight turns. It’s a discipline that demands courage, split-second decision-making, and resilience — qualities James has developed through years of training and competition.
By 2023, James had established himself on the world stage, claiming Junior World Championship gold in the mixed team event in San Pellegrino, Italy alongside Josie Baff. In 2024, he continued his rise with back-to-back European Cup victories in Isola 2000, France, and finished fourth overall on the European Cup tour. His breakthrough led to a debut World Cup season in 2024/25, where he earned a final ranking of 49th in the world. He also excelled at the 2025 Australia–New Zealand Cup, recording 1st, 2nd, and 4th place finishes across three races to secure 2nd overall in the series, boosting his position to 22nd on the world ranking points list.
Looking ahead, James is chasing qualification for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics and building toward peak performance and medal contention at the 2030 and 2034 Games, with ambitions of World Cup podiums along the way.
Away from the slopes, James aspires to build a career as a sports media presenter, aiming to bring the drama, passion, and stories of sport to audiences around the world while staying connected to the sporting community beyond his competitive career.
Outside of sport, one of his main aspirations is to complete a university degree in Communications/Journalism. He aims to pursue a career in the media after sport, whether as a journalist or commentator, as this is a path he is very passionate about. He has already begun this journey and currently holds a place in the Bachelor of Journalism degree at the University of Technology Sydney, where he is on a leave of absence. His plan is to resume studies after the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan, allowing him an uninterrupted lead-up to the next Winter Olympics. From that point, he intends to take one or two subjects per semester until he completes the degree. By then, he hopes to have achieved long-term goals in Snowboard Cross and be ready to transition into a rewarding career in media — an area he is genuinely excited about.
“Being awarded a Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship is an incredible honour and a huge step forward in my career. It recognises the hard work I’ve put into reaching the World Cup level and supports my goal of qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Beyond the financial assistance, this Scholarship connects me with Australia’s most inspiring sporting community, giving me the chance to learn, grow, and represent my sport with pride. It motivates me to push harder, chase success on the world stage, and contribute to the growth of snowboarding in Australia.” – James Johnstone on being selected as a 2026 Tier 2 Scholarship Holder.
Honours & Achievements
- 2023 Snowboard Cross Junior World Championships – Passo San Pellegrino, Italy – Mixed Team Event – 1st Place
- 2025 Australian New Zealand Cup – Mt Hotham, Australia – 1st, 2nd and 4th in 3 races – 2nd Overall
- 2024 European Cup – Isola 2000, France – Race 1 – 4th Place European Cup Overall Standings 2024
- 2025 World Cup – Montafon, Austria – First World Cup top 32 finish
Social Links | Instagram https://www.instagram.com/james_johnstone_/?hl=en
