What exactly is defined as "starts on file select"? Does timing start when you press + to bring up the file select menu and load up a new file? Or, does it start when you press +, a, or b, to start a fresh file?

TL;DR: Rules on when to start timing for SM64 are kind of vague and I need some clarification.

its really not vague. its when you select the file on the file select menu. thats what file select means.

it also really isn't that hard to pull up a run and see where they start the timer.

it starts when you press +, a, or b, to start a fresh file

Thanks