IMO, the most important skill to work on in the woods is corner speed. Because there are so many turns in the woods, especially tight woods, gaining just a bit of speed, makes a huge difference. If you practice and pick up just 1 km/h of average speed in corners, or better yet, shave 1/5 or 1/4 sec off each time spent in each corner, then multiply that by hundreds, or thousands of turns & it adds up real fast. That extra corner speed automatically increases your straightaway speed too.
Over a 10km section that can drop a minute, or more off your time, which can be the difference between a C rider and a B, or a B and an A. Or a 10th place and first.
Add in increasing skills with obstacles & junk and skills at squeezing between tight trees & you have a recipe for real skills improvement.
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