This guide covers track-specific tips and routes. See my “Speedrunning Guide for STK 1.x” for more general tips. It will also help to watch the record videos (time trials or full speedruns) for a visual reference.

(Credit goes to Theodore for helping optimize the routes and techniques on each track for version 1.x and credit goes to other speedrunners for optimizing the tracks in general.)

Shifting Sands:

Take the bridge after the lake area. Heavyweights struggle entering the pyramid, as they will not stick to the road and instead be shot into the wall on the right. To avoid losing your speed, start a left skid just as you are leaving the bridge and continue the skid as you hit the wall. Using some nitro helps. As you hit the wall widen your skid as much as possible and try to collect the nitro while still skidding. This way you can charge a red boost.

Nessie’s Pond:

There is a somewhat difficult trick on this course. On the curve right before the tunnel there is a wall with a low slope. It is possible to ride the wall and take a slightly sharper turn. Head toward the left part of the road right before the curve. Then begin a skid and approach the wall. You should be able to skid on the wall without slowing down. Continue your skid as you leave the wall and try to charge a red boost. It will take some practice to get the angle. If you take too sharp a turn, you will hit the banana as you get off the wall. Outside of time trials, this trick is likely not worth the risk. It is also more difficult for middleweights and lightweights, as they will likely skid too sharply.

Antediluvian Abyss:

Try to collect all the nitro here. You may need to take a break from skidding/nitro before the big nitro can to collect it more safely, although it is possible to collect it right after a skid boost.

Volcan Island:

At the beginning, start by taking the right path and then switch over to the left. You should get red skids from this route. Though you can take a different route to avoid other players. Try to get two right skid boosts in the process. Go for nearly all red skids. Ideally you should only perform yellow skids on this track to accelerate (including the beginning of the race). Use nitro before the ramp to speed up your landing. Try to start a skid just before going off the ramp and charge a red boost after you land. There is also an advanced shortcut that is only viable for time trials. Head left on the straightaway with bananas before passing the volcano and use the stone on the left as a ramp. Drive in the air across part of the volcano and land on the road below. Do not cut off too much or you will miss a checkline.

Hacienda:

This course is easy unless you choose to take the ramp near the beginning. This is not much faster and should only be done on time trials. Also, because this area is the optimal place to use a zipper in the 2nd and 3rd lap, this trick is really only useful on the first lap. As you may know, going straight up the ramp will shoot you into the ceiling. Instead, approach the middle of the ramp and aim for the right corner as you go off it. Have a skid boost charged as you are landing. It will take some luck to not crash into the ceiling. Maintaining speed is also a problem. Get the big nitro can when you approach the end of the lap.

Cornfield Crossing:

Try to charge a red boost during every major turn. You can charge a red boost going into the final straightaway if you are using a heavyweight (or if you are boosting with a middleweight). Heavyweights won’t naturally stick to the steep slope after the ramp. This can be resolved by either drifting at an angle or slightly tap on the brakes right before the slope to avoid this problem. Using the brakes is more consistent.

Snow Peak:

Again, try to get as many red skids as possible (but don’t sacrifice good trajectories for a red skid). Don’t cut corners during the section before the last bridge. It will be slower (and you may even miss a checkline).

Ravenbridge Mansion:

There is a lot of nitro on this course; do not worry about collecting every single can. In fact, on the final lap if you have a lot of nitro stored, skip nitro that is on the outside of the turns. You might also want to avoid the big nitro can in between the bananas if you find it too risky. The shortcut on this course doesn’t save too much time, so feel free not to take it if you have not mastered it. If you choose to take it, the fastest method is to release a yellow skid as you land on the rocks. Then hop to angle yourself inward as you go off the ramp to take a sharp turn afterward. If you angle yourself too much inward, you will hit the grass. There are easier strategies: you can also be skidding the entire time you take the shortcut or not skid at all until the ramp. But since the shortcut already isn’t much faster, you may want to avoid taking it at all as opposed to using a slightly safer method. Be skidding as you land after the shortcut.

Zen Garden:

Cut the patch of grass before the bridge. Use nitro to avoid losing too much speed. You will not have room for red skids until after the cave section.

Cocoa Temple:

If you have a zipper (including if you’re in time trial mode), take the right path at the beginning and use your zipper there. Otherwise, the left path is faster if done properly (you should get two red skids), unless you want to avoid other people taking that route. After the bridge, there are more split paths. Take the right path and then stay to the left of the middle houses. As you go off the ramp. an advanced strategy is to land on the rail. Otherwise, just continue normally. Charge a red skid. If you are on the rail, get off it when you see the nitro. Follow the nitro and head for the patch of sand to the left. Leave the main path and go to the hidden ramp. Hop to the right just before going off the ramp to avoid crashing. Skid as you go off the ramp and try to charge a red boost. If you struggle with the ramp and instead take the normal route, you will not have as much speed going into the indoor area, so it will be beneficial to clip the side of the mini ramp. Also, if you take the normal route, this is where you should use your zipper, not near the beginning. Finally, you can angle yourself to the right as you go off the last ramp to try to cut off a small portion of the last turn. Don’t cut off too much, or you will hit an invisible wall. It’s difficult to get the angle right, and it’s better to cut off very little or none at all than too much.

Oliver’s Math Class:

Practice the shortcut a lot, as doing well depends on it. Get two yellow skids during the shortcut, one as you are entering it and another as you are exiting it. The optimal place to use a zipper is shortly after the left turn at the beginning. However, it is especially difficult to take the shortcut at zipper speed. A less risky strategy is to use it right after entering the shortcut, although you will miss out on some skid boosts.

Gran Paradiso Island:

It is easy to mess up the shortcut here. A consistent skidding technique will help you land on the bridge. For example, get a yellow skid as you leave the beach area. Then begin another skid as you drive off the road. You can also use the gift boxes as a reference if you are not on time trial mode. Start a skid as you go off the ramp at the end of the shortcut and charge a red boost. Be prepared for the sharp turns ahead. With a zipper, you can cut off a lot more with the shortcut. Use your zipper shortly after passing the second banner in the beach area. Start skidding left. The extra speed will allow you to skip a portion of the bridge. The landing will take some luck and practice. This is generally too risky to be used outside of time trial mode.

Around the Lighthouse:

Perform mostly yellow skids. Perform a red skid on the last major right turn. Avoid skid boosting on some small turns—instead, prepare for the next turn.

Candela City:

The nitro can at the beginning is tricky to get. It is faster to perform the first skid boost as early as possible, but if you need to, wait a second until the first turn to skid. Heavyweights will get some air going down the hill, allowing them to get a red skid. Other vehicles will require two yellow skids. In the next section, you should start out on the right side. When you see a nitro can in the middle, grab it and switch to the left side. Be careful not to skid too sharply during the next turns, as the edges are unforgiving.

Northern Resort:

The sharp turns near the beginning are difficult for heavyweights. Approach the turns at a wide angle so that you can a sharp turn inward. Tap the brakes during the curves if you need to; just make sure that you collect the big nitro can on the right of the last curve in this section. Also collect the big nitro can toward the outside of the following turn.

Minigolf:

You should use a lightweight on this track for all modes (although middleweights are technically viable on time trials). Try to maintain as much speed as possible on the sharp turn after the brick bridge. Don’t take chances with the golfball. Pay attention to the last time it rolled out and slow down if you need to. On time trials, take the right path when the road splits to get the nitro. If you are in a race and someone already took the nitro, or if you just want an item, take the left path. Cut off the turn at the end by heading right after the loop. Try to enter at the red bricks, as the dirt will slow you down. Use a zipper here if you have one. There is a very advanced shortcut you can take on time trial mode. At the beginning of the lap, as you arrive at the upward slope before the tunnel, hop to the right toward the red bricks. Do more right hops/short skids as you drive off the bricks and land in the area below. Use nitro when you hit the ground. It will take some practice to get the angle right as well as some luck to maintain speed while still landing properly. On the first lap it is slower unless you do it perfectly, so it is not advised.

Black Forest:

Take the left path when the road splits. At the next turn, try to get the nitro adjacent to the banana. This is easier to do if you don’t use any nitro right before the turn (since you’ll have less speed). Grab the big nitro can at the far end of the following turn if you can, but this will also take some precision. Tap on the brakes when you get the nitro can if you need to do so to avoid hitting the wall. Don’t enter the house on the right after this turn. There is, however, a bench next to the house with some nitro under it, but again, it is not easy to get this nitro without crashing. It helps slightly to choose a vehicle with a small hitbox. After passing the house, enter the train tracks on the right if you don’t see a train that will block your path. If the train is in the way you should take the normal path and get on the tracks after the white bridge if you can. Practice getting on the tracks in this area because it is easy to crash or end up in the grass. Finally, take the right path after exiting the train route.

Old Mine:

Try to collect the nitro cans in the bridge area without hitting the crates. However, If you only clip the edge of them, you can hit them without significant speed loss. When you get to the final major curve (the loop), take the first part of the turn tight (skid to the left of the lamp), but then head toward the outside of the curve to try and collect all the nitro (don’t skid here, but hop as needed to assist in turning). Watch the red/green light and wait for the minecart if you need to.

STK Enterprise:

The left path is probably faster for you at the beginning, but it depends on your skidding strategy. If you are in a race and a lot of people are taking the left path, go for the right path. There is a lot of nitro on this course (though not as much as Ravenbridge Mansion) and you can afford to miss a couple of cans, especially if you are using a middleweight or lightweight. When the path splits again, start out on the right and and switch to the left when you see the big nitro can. Go off the ramp as straight as possible to avoid crashing and have a yellow skid charged for when you land.

XR591:

Do not get the nitro on the right in the beginning cave area. When the path splits, start off taking the right path, but cut off the turn instead of continuing. You’ll need to slow down to stay on the track after the shortcut. Also, if you are too far to the left, you’ll hit an invisible wall. A more advanced method is to hop to the right of the poll at the beginning of the turn and then take the shortcut. You’ll be at a better angle and will not have to slow down as much. If you don’t want to take the shortcut you should instead head left (but go right if a lot of racers are on the left path). If you do so, tap the breaks to take the turn more sharply while also collecting the nitro. When you get to the three sharp turns at the end, don’t collect the nitro on the first two turns. Instead, focus on good trajectories. On the last turn you can collect the nitro, or alternatively, you can drive on the sloped inside of the curve. This is a lot riskier, though, because you could get air or even miss the checkline (note that the checkline has been expanded for 1.1, so if you are using a recent build this may not be an issue). It is only recommended on time trials. Head toward the area to the right of the main road after this turn and perform a skid before crossing the finish line.

Fort Magma:

Don’t go for any out-of-the-way nitro cans on the narrow path at the beginning. Try to stay near the middle of the path. Watch out for the cannonball, of course. You don’t have to slow down to avoid it, but you might have to go to the side. The split path at the end is very balanced. Ultimately you should test the paths for yourself, but in general the right path is slightly faster for time trials. You may also find the right path a bit easier since you don’t have to switch your skidding direction at the end. As with other split paths, if there are a lot of racers taking a certain path, take the other path to avoid them.

Nitro guides:

Here are the routes you should take for the two nitro challenges in story mode.

Shifting Sands:

Collect the two nitro cans on the right of the road when you reach the lake. Take the bridge route. Get the two nitro cans in the path following the bridge. When the split path ends you will have to collect three cans. You can miss one can total if you follow this route.

XR591:

Collect all the nitro in the beginning cave area. Collect the can toward the outside of the first sharp turn. Take the shortcut. Collect any nitro in your main path. When you get to the final three turns, you don’t need to collect the first two cans (although you can if you are behind). Collect the can toward the outside of the second turn as well as the one at the final turn. If you miss even one can you will have to collect a backup can.