The San Francisco stage of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, taken from THPS 4, is filled with speeding cars, inclined roads, oceanfront architecture, and an even combination of classic and contemporary skating obstacles. Among its numerous objectives, one exceptionally showy goal merits special mention: BS Boneless a Pier Sign.
This challenge demands more than pinpointing the right spot—it pushes your timing, accuracy, and trickery skills. Here’s what you need to know to conquer it with confidence.
Where to Find the Pier Sign
To start the challenge, proceed towards the aquarium section. From the central spawn point, pass by the fountain and skateboard towards the back-left corner of the map as far as you can. You will skate past various souvenir stalls and buildings until you find a blue launch ramp that is right in front of an oversized overhead sign which says:
“The Pier – Dine, Shop, Explore.”
This large sign sits right above the ramp, so it’s the ideal spot to start a cool BS Boneless.
Performing the BS Boneless Trick
To land the objective, you will need to do a BS Boneless (Backside Boneless) onto or over the sign from the ramp. Here is what to do step by step:
Build Momentum
Ensure you’ve gained sufficient speed before impacting the ramp. You can utilize manual combos or halfpipe transitions close by to generate a combo and add more speed.
Approach the Ramp Head-On
Align with the blue ramp facing directly towards the Pier sign. A smooth, centered takeoff provides you with your best opportunity to hit the needed trick height.
Perform the BS Boneless
As you are going up the ramp and close to the top, press:
- Left on the D-Pad + Y (Xbox) / Triangle (PlayStation) to activate the BS Boneless.
- Then, in mid-air, press A (Xbox) / X (PlayStation) to drop down and complete the trick.
Land Smoothly
Be sure to land clean after completing the trick—either on the ground or on a flat surface close at hand. Bailing will not register the goal, even if the trick is done properly in mid-air.
If you succeed, you’ll receive a notification that you’ve achieved the “BS Boneless a Pier Sign” goal.
Additional Tips
Use Special Meter if Needed
If you’re having trouble getting airborne, prefill your Special Meter and utilize it to enhance your jump height. It allows you more time in the air to perform and land the trick.
Practice the BS Boneless
If you’re new to the BS Boneless move, try practicing it on smaller ramps or flat ground before attempting it over the sign. This helps build muscle memory for the input timing.
Camera Control
Adjust your camera using the right analog stick to ensure your angle of approach is straight. An off-center jump can easily lead to missing the sign or bailing the trick.
This goal is not a stunt, though it certainly is a trick—it’s a nod to Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4’s mixture of objective-based action and open-world discovery. It’s a challenge of a player’s spatial skills and timing with tricks but also of the joy of skateboarding freedom. It’s exactly the kind of how THPS 3+4 takes memorable moments from the classic games and reimagines them with better controls and updated graphics.
Completing this challenge is not only rewarding but also adds to your 100% completion for the San Francisco level in the THPS 4 tour. It’s a necessity for serious players who wish to expose themselves to everything the game can offer.
