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ok, some tips for noobs.

1 - start off boost
right as the 2 begins to fade away hold down the gas, you will learn the timing if you practice it a bit

2 - drifting
to drift, jump and hold in a direction to take sharper corners

3 - drift boosting
while drifting, press back and forth on the d pad till the sparks behind your kart turn orange, then let go whenever you want for a small boost.

4 - drafting
when behind an opponent, if you stay directly behind them you get a small speed boost because they take away the air resistince

5 - draft boosting
if you stay behind an opponent long enough, you get a small boost that cuts all air resistance for a few seconds


well, those are most of the techniques. I suggest playing 50cc and trying them all out.

I call the boost you get from driving behind another 'slipstream', cause I like Star Trek.
And aren't you supposed to move left and right to create a drift boost?

A good hint would be to drift a lot and try to get as much drift boosts as possible. Drift boosts aren't as effective as a mushroom, but they're worth missing an item box or two for the extra speed. When drifting, make as small corners as possible, small corners = short distance = less time.
Anyone who's played MK biggrin D will know about drifting, though.

Has anyone found an actual use to hopping besides making big leaps off bumps?

I've found an easier way to get the starting boost is to listen instead of watch, accelorate just after you hear the second tone.

Actually, for the start-off boost...it's a lot easier to rev up at the start of the count-down, hold it 'till the 1 starts to dissappear, then, as soon as it does, let go for a split-second, and then hold it again...but it still takes practice to get the timing right... domokun

I was always wondering how to do the boosting.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8490612227816361375&q=blue+shell+dodging&pl=true

Too bad it's so incredibly blurry... I should totally try that sometime. o.o