Managing speed and choosing line

In events like SL, managing speed can become an increasingly important skill.  Skiers modify their line, according to the speed they feel comfortable with when negotiating a course.  Watching different skiers and how they change their line in reaction to their speed, can provide insight into what line provides the most comfortable speed for your ability as a racer.  Compare the masters line verses the world cup line, keeping in mind that world cup courses are set differently.

Masters race

World cup race

What is important to note, is that rhythmical turning gates in world cup SL are set with more horizontal offset.  This means that as you look up the hill, the red and blue turning gates are farther apart, than how most masters courses are set.  This allows for more speed and easier control of the speed managing tactics.  Unfortunately a masters racer who is a strong technical skier will be held back in a typical masters set.  This is because there is a limit to how fast you can negotiate a masters course, regardless of how fast you can ski and still maintain control.  Notice the difference between how the world cup skier checks their speed, this is mainly a function of the differences in course setting.  If the masters racer checked their speed the same way, their ski tips would hook the gate.