Getting started
Race, Showoff, Free Ride and your first big tricks.
The original console game for PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube and Xbox. The rider directory follows the North American roster; regional replacements are noted separately. The Game Boy Advance adaptation is outside this guide.
Race
Reach the finish ahead of the other riders. Learn where a clean line saves more time than a risky jump.
Showoff
Build a high trick score before time runs out. Look for jumps, rails and score multipliers.
Free Ride
Explore the courses without the pressure of a race. Use a few runs to find a route you can repeat.
World Circuit
Choose a rider and progress through events. Race and Showoff reward different skills, so practise both.
Local multiplayer
The console versions support two-player split-screen competition. Button layouts differ between PS2, GameCube and Xbox.
Make a clean landing the first trick goal
Choose a familiar jump in Free Ride and repeat a simple trick with the same takeoff. Watch how much airtime the slope gives you and finish the input early enough to land predictably. Once this feels reliable, add another action or a different approach. A dependable landing makes both Race and Showoff more enjoyable because a useful trick stops becoming a recurring crash.
Keep racing and scoring lines separate
On a new course, identify the path that reaches the next section quickly and the path that provides useful jumps or rails. You can then choose between them based on the event. A Showoff attempt may deliberately spend more time in a scoring area; a race may benefit from avoiding unnecessary airtime. Knowing both routes makes the course flexible instead of forcing every event through one habit.
Try a course in Free Ride to learn the turns and jumps before chasing a medal.