In order to get a score of 1 ball the skier must pass from the line of the right hand gate, around the buoy, and return to the line of the right hand gate prior to the boat guide at 2 ball.
To have a realistic opportunity to advance and score 2 balls, the skier needs turn 1 ball in a controlled manner and early enough to return to the right hand gate line within 27 meters of ball 1. (I imagine someone may challenge the notion that a skier can successfully score 2 balls while going from the right hand gate line and around 2 ball in less than 14 meters, but I find it highly unlikely)
Thus, in order for a skier to advance to the next pass they should also have to make their way from the left hand gate line, around 6 ball, and back to the left hand gate line in a controlled manner, within 27 meters.
This way, hypothetically at least, if the course continued they would have a chance at continuing to 7 ball......which I have tried a few times (usually on the rare occasion that a pass was so smooth my brain could not believe i was at 6 ball already).....and every time I tried this I was well in front of exit gates after turning 6 ball, even when running late.
In my mind the purpose of exiting the gates is to demonstrate that you skied the course, including six ball, with enough control and skill that you could ski a 7th ball, or 8th ball. By moving the gates, or changing the exit rule you are essentially saying someone can ski 5 balls in enough control, and then through brute force, will power, dumb luck, or some combination thereof, get their ski around 6 ball even though they do not have enough control to continue skiing.
Thoughts?