Since Cross-Country is the main thing I speedrun, I started to make a guide for it.

First the concepts I am going talk about.

1. Character choice

2. The start

3. Boosts

4. Hills

5. Different routes

6. Important things to DO and NOT to do

7. Character choice The character you should choose is Amy. Amy has a perfect combination of stamina, speed and a long boost.

8. The start Set the CPU's to hard. The opponent of COM 1 has to be Sonic, Shadow or Metal Sonic. They are the fastest characters in the game. Right when the start begins wait until it says "2". Then hold the A button just after COM 1 charges. The best start needs to have a fast charge of COM 1. Then when it says "GO", go immediately behind COM 1. You need to be right behind COM 1 for the fastest start. If you are a bit further behind COM 1 but still see him on the screen, then just continue going behind him. If you are just behind him then go a bit down on the charge pannels without mashing. Go right behind COM 1 after that without barely hitting him.* Just experiment how long you have to be offroad.

*This is the fastest way of the start. I always skip if I don't manage to get this.

3. Boosts When you boost your character you can take the advantage to go offroad some times. However dont do this too much in the same boost. Otherwise you will lose speed afterwards.

4. Hills Hills are probably the most important things in cross-country. You can get insanely speed from them. Do always hold B down to the end of the hill. Do not release it earlier. For the most hills it is important to activate the boost as early as possible before the hill. At some hills it feels weird to do that, but it saves several seconds. As you can see in my video after the second hill I already boost when I go down on the hill. This saves about 5 seconds. Also the start boost has to be as early as possible. Try to boost already before you have the 3 boosts at once. And while you boost try to get the last boost in the slipstream. Don't forget to stay on the white line.

5. Different routes There are curently 3 different routes

• Standard route
• Extra hill route
• Fast lap 1 ending route

In my opinion, the standard route is the best route. I used that route in my 10:46.024 WR. The extra hill route is used by several top players but is very hard to do right. The fast lap 1 ending route has potential. If you boost later on the ending of lap 1 (and just go down to hit the boost chargers) you will do the section afterwards with more speed. However you will most likely run out of stamina at the end before the last hill. If you do it right your ending of lap 1 will always be fast.

I will link a video of all 3 routes here: Standard route:

Extra hill route:

Fast lap 1 ending route:

6. Important things to DO and NOT to do To DO: Go down as late as possible in the part before the 2 hills. Try to be as much as possible on the white lines. Spam the X-button at then part with the two hills and at the end. Spam the A-button when you're offroad.

NOT to do: Never go offroad unneccesary. Dont boost too early at some parts, time your boosts perfectly. Never mash when you are on a hill. Always finish the hill.

With all this knowledgde and with practise you should be able to get a sub 11. Dont be mad if you can't get a sub 10:50. That's another level.