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'''Ancient Lake''' ('''AL''') is [[Diddy Kong Racing]]'s first course, and Dino Domain's first course.

== Car 3lap ==

This course demands perfection.  You can do the basic strategy right, and still be 3, 4, 5 seconds off the top times.  But here goes.

Get the blue boost start right from the get-go, and start tapping that A button as fast as you can(if you have an autofire controller, dont worry bout tapping A, just turn on the autofire and hold it down).  Grab the set of 3 bananas in front of you, then press and hold R into a left facing slide.  You'll wanna practice this so that you can hold this slide the whole way without going too wide or into the grass.  Anyway, start sliding, and then when the track start to turns, dont go inside just yet, as there are another set of 3 bananas up ahead.  If you're in the right position, you can grab the inner two bananas in one pass, but its more than likely that you'll only grab one.  Either way, as soon as you grab one or two of them, go back to the inside of the turn.  The whole time during this turn you should be sliding.  Anyway, towards the end of this turn, you'll come towards a zipper.  Stop sliding, tap A for just a bit longer, then let go of A just before you go over this zipper, so you can get the green boost, instead of the normal pink one.  Now there are another two sets of 3 bananas in front of you.  You'll wanna try and grab at least two of the 3 from the inside set.  If you're lucky, you'll grab all three, but i usually only get two.  Anyway, backtracking just a bit.  After going over the zipper, you'll immediately wanna get into a right facing slide to go around this small turn.  Boost thru the turn, grab the bananas, and then as soon as it starts turning to the left again, let go of R, turn left and immediately press R again to start back into a left facing slide again.  You'll wanna start tapping again right when the smoke from your zipper boost runs out, and it usually starts to run out right when you turn left again.  Anyway, stay as tight as you can around this last long turn, grabbing the banana as you go.  Towards the end of the lap, there will be another zipper, plus two more bananas in the middle of the track.  By this point, you should have at least 6 bananas, if not 7 or 8 (you'd have 9 if you managed to grab every banana that I mentioned).  Either way, try to grab both bananas in the middle after going over the zipper (not forgetting to release A before hitting said zipper), and then let the smoke carry you over the line.

For laps 2 and 3, repeat the above strategy, minus all the banana grabbing.  It is VERY important to keep every turn as tight as possible, and to slide as much as you can, while tapping A as fast as you can.  As I said, this course demands perfection to get a top time, and is very difficult to improve upon once you get to the upper levels of play.  My own personal best time for the 3lap is 45.01 with TT, without autofire.  With an autofire controller, it'll be easier to beat my time, but it is still tough to get good times on this course.  Good luck!!

* [http://www.superplayers.de/stefanmahrla/DKR/Ancient%20Lake%20-%20Car%20-%200.44.41%20-%20Mahrla.avi Video - 44"41] by [[Stefan Mahrla]]

== Car flap ==

Basically, make sure you have 10 bananas, and use the strategy above.  There's very little (if any) difference between laps 2 and 3 of a 3lap attempt and a flap attempt.  My best flap is 14.25 with TT and no autofire.  Once again, good luck!!


* [http://www.superplayers.de/stefanmahrla/DKR/Ancient%20Lake%20-%20Car%20-%20Lap%200.13.40%20-%20Stefan%20Mahrla%20%5bTurbo%5d.avi Video - 13"40] by [[Stefan Mahrla]]

== Hover 3lap ==

Get a blue boost and collect the three bananas. Aim towards the group of three bananas in a line further up the course. You want to collect the leftmost two in one swoop while simaltaneously turning left. This left turn needs to be quite sharp as you want to cut inside of the tree here and turn hugging the wall while hopping. Get a green boost off the zipper here and aim towards the group of three bananas picking up at least two of them. You want to start a right turn slightly before you get the two bananas. Go straight until you are through the arch and then turn left slightly, following the edge of the track, picking up a banana on the way. Go over the zipper, getting a green boost and collect the two bananas in the middle of the track here. You should now have 10 bananas. As you come onto lap 2 follow the line where the grass meets the track until it starts to turn. You want to hug the wall here, turning left while hopping. Follow the wall until you come to the zipper, then head towards that. Get a green boost and head straight over the grass in the middle. Hop and turn left just after you get through the stone arch. You want to cut over the water just the right amount so that you take shortest line but still clip the edge of the zipper up ahead, getting a green boost over the finish line. Lap 3 is the same as lap 2

== Hover flap ==

Have 10 bananas. Follow the strat for lap 2 above

== Plane 3lap ==

Do a boost start and collect 2 or better 3 bananas. Then do a right barrel roll into the zipper. (Important: From now on you never press the A button again in the whole run.) You will hit the first zipper and can just fly into the second zipper (if you are lucky, you will get a banana just before the 2nd zipper). After the second zipper aim for the 3rd zipper on the ground (the 1st one you use for car). This zipper is sometimes hard to hit. Maybe break a bit to hit it. Then fly up again and hit the 4th zipper over the grass. After you pass the stone tunnel, break and steer hard to the left. Then do a left barrel roll and aim for the last zipper on the ground. Usually you have to break again to hit the 5th zipper on the ground, but it's possible to hit it without breaking. After you hit the last zipper, do 2-3 left and/or right barrel rolls until you reach the first zipper. Repeat the strat from this point two more laps.

* [http://www.superplayers.de/stefanmahrla/DKR/Ancient%20Lake%20-%20Plane%20-%200.39.83%20-%20Mahrla.avi Video - 39"83] by [[Stefan Mahrla]]

== Plane flap ==

The fast lap is identical to the normal run. You should just collect 10 bananas in lap 1 (and 2), so that you have the maximum speed for your flap.

* [http://www.superplayers.de/stefanmahrla/DKR/Ancient%20Lake%20-%20Plane%20-%20Lap%200.11.23%20-%20Stefan%20Mahrla.avi Video - 11'23] by [[Stefan Mahrla]]

== External Links ==

[[Category:DKR Strats]]