Power Cruising Guide: Water Routes and Four-Player Racing

Power Cruising is the water vehicle of Nintendo Switch Sports Resort, and the only leisure sport with same-console multiplayer for up to four players. That combination makes it the best of the three leisure activities for a group, and the most useful for reaching the island's coastal collectibles.

Controls

• Tilt to lean the jet ski into turns.
• Stick for throttle.
• Motion for jumps off wakes and ramps.

The handling model is loose: the ski slides before it grips, and the turn you get is always wider than the turn you asked for. Learning to start turning early is the whole skill.

Racing with four players

Local Power Cruising supports four players on one console, which makes it the party mode of the leisure sports. Two things to know before you start:

• The course matters more than the vehicle. Everyone has the same machine, so the racing is entirely about line and lean.
• Ramps are optional. A jump is fun and usually slower than the flat line, unless the course designer put the ramp on the racing line.

Split-screen racing at four players is the configuration where this sport gets played most, and it is worth trying before you write off the leisure sports as exploration only.

Water routes and collectibles

The island's coastline hides collectibles that the land routes cannot reach. Power Cruising is how you get to them:

• Coves hide items behind headlands, visible only from the water.
• Harbour areas hold several items in a small space, which makes them efficient stops.
• Open water between the island and its smaller islets is mostly empty, apart from the occasional item placed to reward a long run.

Scout from the plane first, then come back by water to collect. The plane sees the glints; the jet ski reaches them.

Handling tips that matter

• Turn early and wide. Late turning on water means a missed buoy and a lost line.
• Release the throttle before sharp turns. Speed makes the ski slide, and a slide into a rock costs more than the throttle saves.
• Use waves as ramps deliberately. A jump taken straight is fast; a jump taken at an angle lands you off-line.

Challenges

Power Cruising's challenge routes are timed runs through buoy gates. They reward the same skill as the racing: early turns, clean lines, and knowing which jumps to take. They are also the most forgiving of the three leisure challenges, because the water gives you room to recover.

For the island's geography, see the Wuhu Island map.

FAQ

How many players can race?

Up to four on one console.

Is Power Cruising online?

No, it is a local and single-player activity.

How do you turn sharply?

Start the turn earlier than feels natural and lean hard; the ski slides into the turn.

Does it earn Spocco Points?

Not meaningfully. Use competitive sports for points.