Posted here a few times before and gotten solid feedback. I've been skiing a few years and taken a few lessons (of varying quality). I am still on greens, and trying to gain confidence and control. Going skiing first time this season in a few days and want to ask about using wedge to slow down.

I can pizza with the best of them on the bunny slope. Wedge turn, etc. But when I get on even an easy green, for whatever reason, using the wedge while facing down the slope I seem to just accelerate, my inside edges not slowing me. I see kids and other beginners doing wedges right near me, going like 1 mph, seemingly in total control of their speed. I'm 6ft 180lbs, but unsure if that even matters. Does "pizza'ing" just not work off the beginner areas, even on slightly steeper grades?

I had a really good lesson last season and the instructor had me start learning "wedge christies" and "J turns". He said at this point I was better off practicing those to turn and traverse the slopes to control my speed, and just J turn and face slightly uphill to stop if I ever need a breather. He said that was a better path to "linking turns and parallel skiing". I assume this was good advice?

Should I work on those in easier areas versus trying to pizza which doesn't seem effective on anything but a nearly flat surface?

(Update: I wanted to give a quick update since I received so much advice here. Yesterday I went skiing and signed up for a (group) lesson. Lucked out and was only one to show up, so I got a private lesson. Teacher was excellent. 1. Many were correct. I was "backseated" and didn't know it, so had to lean in and engage inside edges harder to wedge. 2. He focused on getting me away from wedge into parallel, saying "wedge is still a tool in the tool box". My issue was inside ski on left turns kept dragging. Couldn't turn left (insert Zoolander joke). He had me flex up my toes a bit in my inside boot (right turn, right toes up. left turn, left toes up), and that tiny fix was game changing. I was able to flatten my uphill ski and turn my leg without the ski dragging me into a wedge. Did multiple green runs, and most importantly felt like I had far more control to not wipe out on (relatively) steeper terrain. He also taught me how to side slip, which I hadn't learned in prior lessons.

Thanks to everyone for the tips and feedback. I'm now looking forward to the next time I can get out there.)