As the third track in the Mushroom Cup Grand Prix, Whistlestop Summit throws a lot at you—tight turns, tricky jumps, and a looping railway system that offers big opportunities for clever racers. If you want to stay ahead, mastering the course’s rail grinds and off-road boosts is key.
Some shortcuts require a Dash Mushroom, others a Feather, and a few just need good timing and handling. Here’s how to hit every shortcut on Whistlestop Summit like a pro:
🚂 Shortcut #1: Grind the Railroad Left of the Starting Line
📍 Location: Immediately at race start
🎯 Requires: Left-side starting position (ideally)
Right as the race begins, there’s a railroad track to the far left of the starting line. If you’re starting on that side, you can hop onto the track and begin grinding. This cuts the first corner and lets you build up a boost right away.
- If you’re not on the left side at the start, no worries—you can still hit this rail in later laps.
- Tip: Perform a frontflip trick while grinding for a small forward boost, but don’t overdo it or you’ll launch off the rail.
💨 Shortcut #2: Boost Through the Rocky Corner (Turn 3)
📍 Location: Just before the loop-de-loop
🚀 Requires: Boost item
As you approach the third turn, the road curves right around a grassy patch with a rocky divider. With a Dash Mushroom or other boost, you can cut straight through this section and skip the full turn.
But watch out—the road quickly swerves left afterward, so be ready to steer or drift hard to stay on track.
🪶 Shortcut #3: Feather Jump Over the Chasm
📍 Location: Right after Shortcut #2, top-right of the course
✨ Requires: Feather item
After the second shortcut, the course loops back and wraps around a chasm. This one’s tricky: you can’t Charge Jump it, but if you time a Feather jump while drifting left, you can clear the gap and skip the entire U-turn.
It’s a risky move:
- You need a Feather
- You need to line it up perfectly mid-drift
- And you only get one shot per lap
But if you pull it off, it’s a massive time-saver.
🎢 Shortcut #4: Grind the Final Rails for a Boost Chain
📍 Location: Last third of the course
🏁 Requires: Timing + good exit line
As the track starts heading south after the loop-de-loop, it runs alongside another stretch of grindable railroad. Like the start of the race, this shortcut lets you build boost while cutting corners and avoiding traffic.
- Hop on the rail early, grind through the midsection
- Jump off right before it merges back with the track
- Land into a drift and chain your boost into the final corner
If timed right, this shortcut gives you a huge momentum boost into the finish line.
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