You’re bombing down a massive concrete hill in Phoenix, the wind is rushing past your virtual skater, and you've got about thirty seconds left on the clock. You’ve nailed the valves. You’ve busted through the pipes. But that one hovering floating icon—the Downhill Jam secret tape—is still mocking you from its perch high above the track.
It's frustrating.
Most people just skip it. They move on to the next level because Downhill Jam is, honestly, kind of a nightmare to navigate if you miss your line. Unlike a park where you can just circle back, this is a linear race. You miss the jump? You're restarting the whole two-minute session. It’s a classic Neversoft design trope from the original 1999 release that carried over into the 1-and-2 remake, and it still ruins speedruns today.
The Most Misunderstood Jump in the Game
The biggest mistake people make when hunting for the Downhill Jam secret tape is thinking they need more speed. Actually, too much speed is usually what kills the attempt. You end up overshooting the entire platform or flying into the hazard water at the bottom.
To get this right, you have to look at the environment differently. Near the end of the run, right before the finish line area, there’s a massive grate and a series of high pipes. You aren't looking for a ramp on the ground. You're looking for the high-altitude catwalks.
It’s all about the "Macho Gap" area.
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When you approach the final stretch, look to the right side of the canyon. There is a specific set of pipes that lead up to a high platform. Most players stay in the middle of the track to hit the big air jumps, but the tape is tucked away on a rickety-looking scaffolding that requires a very precise transfer. If you don't hit the kicker at the exact right angle, your skater will just clip the edge and tumble into the abyss.
The Original vs. The Remake
If you're playing the 2020 remake, the physics are a bit more forgiving than the PS1 original, but the placement is identical. In the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, the draw distance was so low you almost couldn't see the tape until you were right on top of it. Today, we have the luxury of 4K resolution, yet it’s still easy to miss because of the visual clutter of the Phoenix wasteland.
Step-by-Step Path to the Tape
Forget everything you know about "the optimal line" for points. If you want the tape, you’re sacrificing your combo.
First, get past the initial downhill sections. Don't worry about the "S-K-A-T-E" letters or the valves yet. Just get to the middle section where the track opens up into a wider ravine. You'll see a large pipe overhead. This is your signal.
- Stay to the right side as you descend toward the end of the level.
- Look for the massive "Steep Hill" sign. Right after this, there’s a concrete ramp that leads upward toward a series of pipes.
- You need to grind the high rail. This is the part that trips people up. If you're on the ground, you've already lost.
- Jump from the right-side elevated platform across the gap to the middle catwalk.
- The Downhill Jam secret tape is floating right in the center of that middle catwalk.
If you fall off, don't bother skating to the end. Just pause and "Retry Course." It’s faster. Honestly, the walking mechanics in the remake make it slightly easier to reposition yourself if you're close, but in the classic games, a fall meant a failed run.
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Why Downhill Jam is Such a Polarizing Level
Let's be real: Downhill Jam is kind of the "black sheep" of the first game. While Warehouse and School are legendary for their flow, Downhill Jam feels more like a racing game than a skating game. This makes finding the secret tape feel more like a platforming challenge than a trick challenge.
The level was actually inspired by real-world downhill longboarding, but with the added "extreme" 90s flair of industrial pipes and toxic sludge. It’s the only level where the camera struggles to keep up because of the constant vertical descent. This is why the tape placement is so devious; the game encourages you to go fast, but the tape requires you to slow down and precision-jump.
Breaking the Physics: Wallrides and Cheats
If you're struggling with the jump, there is a "cheese" method.
You can actually wallride the right-hand canyon wall to gain extra height before jumping onto the pipes. This bypasses the need for a perfect launch off the kicker. In the original version, some players even used the "Moon Gravity" cheat just to snag this one item because the collision detection on the pipes was so notoriously buggy.
But you don't need cheats. You just need a high "Ollie" and "Air" stat. If you're trying to get this with a fresh, low-stat custom skater, you’re making life way harder than it needs to be. Max out your stats in the Warehouse or School II first, then come back and blast through this.
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The Legacy of the Secret Tape
In the early 2000s, finding these tapes was the only way to unlock the "B-Side" footage of the pro skaters. It was our pre-YouTube version of watching skate parts. Getting the Downhill Jam secret tape meant seeing more of Andrew Reynolds or Bob Burnquist's real-life slams and triumphs.
There was a sense of mystery back then. No Reddit threads. No instant video guides. Just you, a CRT television, and a controller with a slightly sticky X button. That tape represented 100% completion. It represented the "Career Finished" screen that we all craved.
Final Tactical Advice for Your Run
When you go for it, ignore the score requirements. Focus entirely on your positioning.
The moment you clear the large half-pipe section in the middle of the map, hug that right wall like your life depends on it. Watch for the iron scaffolding. When you see the gap, wait until the very last millisecond to ollie. If you jump too early, you’ll hit the underside of the rail and fall.
Once you snag the tape, you don't even have to finish the run. The game saves the "Collected" status instantly. You can just quit out and move on to the next challenge.
Next Steps for Completionists:
- Check your stat points: Ensure your "Air" and "Hangtime" are at least 7/10 before attempting the high catwalk transfer.
- Practice the "Wallride to Ollie" maneuver on the right-side canyon wall to get a feel for the verticality of the level.
- If you're in the remake, use the "Revert" after landing on the pipes to maintain balance if your landing is shaky.
- Once the tape is secure, focus on the "5 Valves" goal, as they follow a similar high-low-high pathing logic through the level.
The Downhill Jam secret tape isn't about skill as much as it is about patience. Take the turn slow, hit the ramp straight, and you’ll finally clear that Phoenix checklist.