For Scotty James, Ayumu Hirano and the rest, it's time to throw down on the Olympic halfpipe

Snowboarder Scotty James of Australia is nearing his chance to fill in the only missing piece over a spectacular career of halfpipe riding — the Olympic gold medal. James, defending champion Ayumu Hirano and his Japanese teammates, including Yuto Totsuka, will be on the Olympic halfpipe Friday for what is widely hailed as the premier event in snowboarding. Hirano won four years ago in Shaun White's going-away party in China (White finished fourth).