After going past the title screen, there are four modes to choose:
Half Pipe Mode: Choose a skater to take on a half pipe, getting big air and doing bigger tricks, all in one minute. This mode is purely for getting a high score.
Tournament Mode: The main mode where four skaters compete in five races. To get the top rank, players must not only place in first, but gain points by performing tricks, grinding on rails, skating on other objects, and collecting tapes.
Link Mode: With a Game Boy Link Cable, two players can compete on one racing course for the most points. The same point system from Tournament Mode is used here.
1 on 1 Mode: This is similar to Tournament Mode, only the point system is removed. Race with one computer opponent to get to the finish line first.
