Yeah it's probably very difficult to avoid dragging the pole a little especially on steeper terrain, but sometimes I see the kids dragging their inside pole a lot almost like a balancing crutch which is something racers want to avoid. In other words if they're leaning into the turn too much, then they are going to drag the pole more, but if they are using a more countered and hip angulation then the pole position will be higher and less drag if any. In GS most good racers are clearing the pole with their inside arm/shoulder, thus keeping the inside hand higher and the pole off the snow. However, I am not a fan of junior racers wearing forearm guards, because if they are clearing the GS panel with their forearm they are most likely pinching the turn, where if the kids are hitting the gates I like to see it going off their back shoulder which means the skis are pointed toward the rise line of the new turn rather than downhill, thus too much pressure at the bottom of the gate and scrubbing speed. Of course all racers pinch from time to time, but overall the skis will be faster when pointed toward the new turn. Here is a good photo of Mikaela passing the gate with the panel at her back and the skis are pointing in the direction of the new turn.