Glide Ramp

Glide Ramps (also referred to as glider ramps or gliding pads) are a type of ramp that first appeared in Mario Kart 7. Glide Ramps appear in various courses and function similarly to regular ramps, except that when driven over they automatically deploy the Kart's Glider, which then enables the player to glide over sections of the course. Players are still able to perform Tricks off of these ramps to gain a speed boost when gliding. The panels on the ramps are cyan with scrolling white arrows on them to differentiate them from Dash Panels. From Mario Kart 7 onward, Barrel Cannons that appear in Mario Kart courses use a Glide Ramp as the method of propulsion instead of the Barrel Cannon's blast. Glide Ramps are also commonly used as shortcuts.

Mario Kart 7
Glide Ramps are introduced in Mario Kart 7 as part of the gliding function, where they are used in numerous courses throughout the game. As well as being used in all of the new courses, Glide Ramps are also used in most of the retro courses, replacing longer jumps and cannons and also to replace or provide alternative routes for some sections of the courses. Some sections are also entirely replaced with a Glide Ramp, such as the bouncing net at the end of. The only retro courses that do not use Glide Ramps are, , and. Although most Glide Ramps remain in the same position, Toad Circuit and have a Glide Ramp that emerges from the ground after an amount of time, usually after the first lap. Also the Bouncing Note section in Music Park have a pair of ramps that change position every so often, leaving just a lower regular white ramp when they change height and side. The Glide Ramp will flash before changing, but can still be glided from when it is flashing. As well as the ramps, one of the Mushroom Trampolines in has now been recolored blue and functions the same way as a ramp, as once the player bounces off it, the Glider will be deployed and the player can glide over the remainder of the cave instead of bouncing over more mushrooms.

Mario Kart Arcade GP series
Glide Ramps reappear in Mario Kart Arcade GP DX, where they appear and function like in Mario Kart 7. The ramps are used in the courses Peach Castle, Kingdom Way, NAMCO Circuit, Bananan Labyrinth, DK Jungle Aerial Road, Sky Arena, and Bowser's Castle. As Mario Kart Arcade GP VR reuses course elements from its predecessor, Glide Ramps also appear in this game.

Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Glide Ramps reappear in Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, where they serve the same purpose as in Mario Kart 7. They are integrated into all of the new courses except Toad Harbor, Excitebike Arena, Dragon Driftway, and Mute City. The ramps are also included in several retro courses, such as replacing the original boosted ramp in and being on the dash panel ramp truck in. The rising Glide Ramp returns in and, and the special lowering twin Glide Ramps returns in  and ; the lowered Glide Ramp becomes black in this game. In courses where the layout changes in-between laps, Glide Ramps can appear in a lap where it wasn't previously, this happens in, , , and. The retro courses that do not have a Glide Ramp are, , , , , , , , , and.

Mario Kart Tour
Glide Ramps appear once again in Mario Kart Tour, where they serve the same function as their previous appearances. Just like in Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Glide Ramps were implemented into retro tracks that previously lacked them, with the most prominent example being found on the remake of N64 Choco Mountain, where the section before the boulders was replaced with a giant pit where racers must glide over to get past it. Like normal ramps, players automatically trick off of them once they are driven over. The rising Glide Ramp also appears in, Berlin Byways 2, London Loop 3, and the R/T variant of 3DS Rosalina's Ice World. In some courses, they can lower in addition to rising, like the twin Glide Ramps from.