The men's snowboard half-pipe is one of the most spectacular competitions at the Winter Olympics.
Dizzying spins and astonishing amplitude are the order of the day as riders look to wow the judges with their vast array of tricks and skills.
Despite the multitude of possible combinations, at this Olympics the competition could come down to just two: the triple cork and the switch backside.
What's a triple cork?
This is what all the top men are currently striving to complete in competition.
Essentially, it's when a rider does three diagonal flips in a single jump.
If you think that sounds hideously dangerous and more like something you'd attempt on a computer game, then you're right. Yet the top men are all starting to push this boundary, and the smart money is on at least one of them landing it at these Games.
Landing a triple cork in a complete run on a half-pipe has proven to be difficult.
Just ask USA legend Shaun White, who ended up in hospital when he was first experimenting with it in 2013. He said it "hasn't been my bread and butter this season" when asked if he'd bring one out at this Games.
Now though, the triple cork is within touching distance for the best male riders on the planet.
The difficulty in gaining that much air and that many rotations is not just landing the initial trick but doing so while being in a position to put together your next trick.
That's what has scuppered Japan's Ayumu Hirano, who first nailed a triple cork in December's Dew Tour event in Colorado, a frontside triple cork 1440 — that's four full rotations as well as the three off-axis flips.
He landed it but failed to complete his next trick, leaving him in fifth place.
Hirano landed it again at January's X-Games but, again, could not stick the combination, handing Scotty James his fourth X-Games title in the process.
However, big Aussie medal hope James said it was only a matter of time before someone put it all together in competition.
"It's been a hot topic for sure, the triple cork," James said.
"It is a matter of time before the triple cork happens, so I think mentally I was always very prepared for that.
After qualifying on Wednesday though, James added that a triple cork was not essential.
"There are a lot of other elements in a halfpipe run that have to be flawless other than just doing a triple cork," he said.
Val Guseli, however, said he "definitely" expected the big guns to drop a triple cork, even if his own version was not yet perfect.
The Japanese riders' advantage is their size, or rather lack of it, with all measuring between 165cm and 170cm.
It is much more challenging to fold James's 185cm frame tight enough to flip three times, but he says he is prepared to pull out his own version of the trick should the need arise.
"I've prepared for absolutely every single circumstance on the day and I'm feeling really good, trick wise, as well as how I'm putting my runs together," he said.
"If that's the case and triple corks have to happen, then I'm ready."
The switch backside
So what if a triple cork doesn't happen?
Well, James is in a very strong position to at least challenge for gold thanks to his trademark switchback double cork 1260.
The switchback double cork 1260 is a terrifying trick in which a rider flips twice on an angle with three and a half spins, with those spins going towards the pipe, having gone backwards up the wall.
Riders have to complete the trick near blind, such is the approach angle, which is why few attempt it – and why James believes it should be well rewarded.
"The reason why is, growing up, we don't typically learn how to ride switch backside. It's always switch frontside.
"It's a very technical trick … just a very strange feeling when you're doing it.
"Also it's more the fundamental building and training to learn that trick … you need to go back to learning how to snowboard again completely.
"That's what makes it so technical."
James has long called for the difficulty of the trick to be better rewarded by judges and has been heartened by what he's seen so far this season.
"At the first two [FIS World Cup] events when I was training, I noticed the guys that did ride switch backside were heavily rewarded, which was great to see," he said.
"I think it just shows a really good variety, that you're in control and you're able to basically execute it all in the same way really well."
James was also thrilled with a new combo he unleashed at the bottom of his second qualifying run, a frontside 1440 with tail grab that proved there was more than one way to wow the judges.
Who are the key riders to look out for?
The legendary Shaun White will always be a factor on name power alone, although even qualifying was not as straightforward as it could have been for the 35-year-old.
The Japanese team though, is stacked with talent.
James described Japan as a "great team" that had the "secret formula" of tough competition within the squad as well as harmony that allowed the athletes to work and feed off each other.
Ayumu Hirano, Ruka Hirano and Yuto Totsuka are all threats, but Ayumu Hirano has proven to be the best rider on the planet in recent years and is a justifiable favourite for gold.
"Ayumu is an amazing snowboarder," James said.
"The guy just naturally oozes talent, for anything with a board on his feet.
"He and I have a good rivalry at the moment.
"Between him, myself and Shaun [White], it was a good battle last time and I think we're expecting something pretty similar this time around.
"He's a very talented individual and I look forward to having a good battle with him this week."
What time is the men's snowboard halfpipe final?
Aussies Scotty James and Valentino Guseli will go for gold from 12.30pm AEDT, with the competition running through to about 2pm. So that's an 11.30am start in Queensland, midday in South Australia, 9.30am in Western Australia, and 11am in the Northern Territory.
