The 22-year-old mountain biker won his first major title at elite level last weekend, the downhill event at the Oceania Mountainbike Championships in Rotorua.
It took him just 3min 7sec to hurtle down the Whakarewarewa Forest track to gain the winner's medal.
"It was a bit of a surprise, " Scoles said, adding that he was seeded third after the seeding run in the morning of the competition.
"You only get one shot at it in the actual event, just one run, so it's all or nothing."
There were 30-40 people competing in the elite section from throughout New Zealand and Australia. Elite is a "pro category" made up of the top people in the sport.
The win gained Scoles entry into the world championships being held in Austria in July or August.
It was his first major title since breaking his ankle in 2008 and later breaking his hand during racing in Europe.
"The ankle took a while to come right but it's pretty good now."
In 2007, he won a bronze medal in the downhill event in the world championships in Scotland and has spent several years in Europe since then, contracted to an Italian team and racing on the world cup circuit.
Last year he was 16th overall on the circuit and is now "talking to a few people" about getting a contract and going back to race in Europe again this year.
The circuit involves races in South Africa, Italy, Scotland, Canada and the United States.
Scoles has been based in Italy and enjoys the lifestyle but says it is good to get back home to Alexandra.
"I've learnt a fair bit of Italian, which is quite cool, and had a good look around overseas, but after six months or so, I'm ready to come back home."
Back in Central Otago, he mixes fitness training and downhill runs around his work as a builder.
"As far as training goes, the best thing is to just get out there and ride your bike."
Scoles says he is fortunate to have a wealth of tracks to choose from and Clyde and Queenstown runs are among his favourites.
There is no downhill event in the Olympics, so a world title would be the "ultimate" accolade and one Scoles is aiming at.
"It would also be cool to be able to do this for a living, full-time and not have to worry about working to finance it, but it's quite hard to reach that level," he said.
It is an expensive sport, with a bike costing about $10,000 and "maybe lasting a season, depending how hard you are on it," he says.
