Like Dabreeze was saying, you've got to slow down on the descents and pick up the 'finesse' part of DH'ng. Then you'll descend like you climb. Speed comes after control. If you can't see it, or don't know it, don't do it balls out. A while later, I wiped out hard, when the front wheel washed out on some cue-balls around a blind turn.
Speed comes after control.
Funny you'd say that. I don't completely disagree with you. There are definitely times I should not try to keep up with the freeriders. My successes came during the long descents through gnarly drops where I didn't have time to worry about whether I would make it or not. On the obstacles where we did stop first, I had my best luck by just going for it.