Both games have an Untracked Course and a course called Pipedream (which i assume is just a half-pipe). Are they different or the same?

Plus, in tricky, i have earned a medal on Alaska in the showoff mode, but it did not unlock the untracked. Do i have to also earn a medal in the racing mode for alaska (this is proving difficult for me)?

The Pipedream course in both games are not base on half-pipes but rather tons of rails to ride all over the place. Pipedream in Tricky is much more fun in my opinion. I don't know how much different the two untracked courses are... I don't really care for them all that much.

If i remember correctly, if you select the untracked course, even when its greyed out, it will tell you the requirements to unlock it.

Answering for Tricky:

Untracked is unlocked by getting a Medal in Alaska in racing mode, Pipedream is unlocked by getting a Medal in Alaska in showoff mode. Pipedream has a lot of different things to do tricks in it, including half pipes, rails, and breakables. Kinda like a Tony Hawk level.

Untracked in Tricky is only playable in the "Practice" mode when you first start up the game.

The SSX Normal Untracked is beter IMHO, it has more big drops.