Outland Reverse: Gold

Here are my findings on the Reverse Gold races in Outland:

Auchindoun Coaster - Difficult (or Easy with Skyhopping*)

Much like in the normal direction, this is a vigor management race with long distances between rings. That means this could be quite difficult except that it's a race that greatly benefits from skyhopping*. Skyhop* as you go through the second ring and again whenever you see a long straightforward distance to the next ring, unless it's a steep downhill. Doing this, I beat the timer by 3 seconds on my first attempt. Beware a sharp turn a few rings from the end.

Blade's Edge Brawl - Moderately Difficult

Like its forwards counterpart, this race requires maintaining a high speed and still managing your vigor, which means skyhopping* the more navigable parts of the race (which tend to be on the valley floor) is borderline essential. Even so, it's tricky to get the balance right. The obstacles you have to avoid aren't too bad on their own but complicate the speed management process.

Coilfang Caper - Moderately Difficult (or Moderately Easy with Skyhopping*)

Spam Surge Forward heavily throughout; throw in two or three skyhops* when the gap between rings is long and open. I think it can be done without skyhopping (with very fine-tuned vigor management), but I was slow by about a third of a second when I tried.

Eco-Dome Excursion - Moderately Easy

As with the normal direction, this is a loose timer. Push moderately aggressively throughout, and you should be fine. Your vision is partially obscured when you're entering or exiting the eco-domes, but there are no surprise sharp turns to worry about. Also note that you can fly through all the floating purple rocks except the biggest ones, so don't bother trying to dodge those.

Fel Pit Fracas - Moderately Easy

Start with two Surge Forwards. Skyhop* as you go through the second, fourth, and seventh rings, with Surge Forwards in between as needed. It may be tempting to skyhop as you go through ring nine, but doing so will put you at a greater risk of grounding yourself if you go for the green ball of vigor on the ground just afterward. I would pick either the skyhop or the vigor but not both. After ring 10, the race becomes a more straightforward matter of cutting a clean course through the obstacles and fireballs, so use Surge Forward and Skyward Ascent normally, pushing moderately hard to the end.

Hellfire Hustle - Easy

Use Skyward Ascent normally for the inclines, most of which appear early, and to skyhop* the big gaps between rings, but don't forget to use Surge Forward somewhat aggressively as well. The rising balls of flame are largely decorative and rarely actually in your way.

Razorthorn Rise Rush - Stupidly Hard

If you thought forwards was tough, reverse is even worse. Spam Surge Forward for the first three rings, then skyhop* between rings three and four, even though that's a downhill stretch. If you can perfect that tactic, you'll buy yourself some time you might need later; if not, don't worry about it -- there are more important things to worry about in this race. Next, you'll enter the thorns briefly. Skyward Ascent almost immediately through the roof; don't worry about clipping the edges of that hole in the roof, because you can fly through the roof anyway. The second time you enter the thorns, it will be more difficult to navigate than in the other direction. Use Skyward Ascent when you get out to make the incline, and probably skyhop afterward to make up more time. The third time you enter the thorns it will also be more difficult to navigate than in the other direction. Again, skyhop once you're outside again. There is a nasty sharp turn the fourth and final time you enter the thorns; this is the longest and most difficult part to navigate, but once you're through it, a final Skyward Ascent takes you to the finish line. You really need clean lines for this, and it's almost impossible to see the thorns coming, so you just have to practice and get a feel for it. As in the normal direction, even a glancing blow against an obstacle will probably cost you more time and/or vigor than you can afford, but don't quit unless you have to -- finish the run for practice.

Shadowmoon Slam - Moderate

Build up speed early. Use Skyward Ascent for the early incline, even though it's not a big one. The main difficulty is the tunnel, which is nasty in reverse because the natural path of the course doesn't line you up with it. If you can get past this, you're probably fine. Skyhop* the rare long gaps between rings and the incline at the end. Otherwise this is just a matter of hitting Surge Forward at a moderately aggressive pace.

Shattrath City Sashay - Moderate

Lots of things to get caught on here, but if you can navigate those you should be fine. Start with a Surge Forward and, as you go through the first ring, a skyhop*. More opportunities for further skyhops* than in the normal direction, such as during an early long incline, but be careful as the ring at the top of it is partially blocked, so your accuracy has to be very good here.

Skettis Scramble - Very Easy

Loose timer, and the obstacles are seemingly more navigable in this direction than the normal direction. Optionally skyhop* at the bottom of the first big decline but mainly you just want to Surge Forward through the second half of the race.

Telaar Tear - Moderately Easy

Spam Surge Forward throughout, even if you get vigor-starved doing so. There is a green ball of vigor at, but not in, ring 14 that is very difficult to get without missing the ring; if you can manage to catch both, you'll have more wiggle room on time. If you miss the vigor, you may have to make up the time with a couple of skyhops* in the middle of the course, but on the run where I caught that vigor ball I got Gold without skyhopping at all. Use Skyward Ascent a couple times for the steep climb around the two-thirds mark; otherwise just keep your foot on the accelerator.

Tempest Keep Sweep - Difficult (or Easy with Skyhopping*)

Like in the forwards direction, this is a very tight vigor management race -- unless you make liberal use of skyhopping in all that open space and long distances between rings, in which case it is still a vigor management race but one you can clear with lots of time left over.

Warmaul Wingding - Very Easy

As in the other direction, this is a fun, flexible race -- loose timer, no tough navigation. Fly it in whatever way is most natural for you. You can become vigor-starved if you push too hard, but even that won't necessarily rob you of Gold.

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* "Skyhopping" involves using Skyward Ascent to gain horizontal speed for a more sustained burst than Surge Forward can manage. To do it, quickly aim straight up, hit Skyward Ascent, and immediately aim horizontally again. It takes practice to hold an accurate course while doing this, but if you pull it off it converts the vertical momentum you normally gain with Skyward Ascent into considerable horizontal momentum.

Thanks for the description of "skyhopping"! I was doing it wrong and thus not getting the full benefit. It took me a few tries to get the hang of it, but I got gold reverse after the 3rd try. :)