Players view the course from behind their watercraft and race through pairs of buoys in the correct direction. Missing or passing a buoy incorrectly can incur penalties, while contact with obstacles or rough water costs speed and control.

Championship mode progresses through a series of races with selectable difficulty. Time Trial focuses on lap records, Versus supports competitive races, and Warm-up provides practice. Acceleration, braking, steering, and the turbo boost are used together to maintain speed through turns and waves.

Enter each buoy gate from the correct side and begin setting up for the next turn before passing it. Avoid overly sharp steering in rough water, since recovery costs more time than a wider line.

Use jumps and wave crests deliberately. A well-timed boost on relatively stable water is usually more useful than activating it while the craft is airborne or badly aligned.