But after beginner level, skiing is easier.
Its easier to get up on skis and get down the mountain, its almost like roller skating, boarding is an exact science it takes a lot of pain (sore ass) and dedication to be able to link turns, once you link that first turn everything slots into place. Skiing is more technical and takes longer to get really good at.
My biggest problem is in stopping the board. I found out the hard way that digging the board in at speed only led to be collapsing rather quickly.
Sounds like your catching edges that you diont want to be catching. Collapsing rather quickly is the only way to stop for anybody that doesnt know how to stop. Ive been there and done it, luckily when i was learning it was powder city, soft snow everywhere so it didnt hurt at all, i was just laughing my head off.
How can I stop smoothly?
Its difficult to explain but its all about weight ratio and confidence. Similar to a spray stop in ice skating. So lets say your boarding along in a curved line and you want to stop, simply lean in and stiffen the line, feel confident in the way your leaning and that its counteracting with the board, everything feels balanced, keep leaning and turning and the board will stop. Learner boarders should never have the board flat at all, always stay on an edge, if not youll catch an edge and the result will be face or ass plant.
The real key is learning when to switch edges, from heel to toe and vica versa, master that and youve nailed it. No one can really tell you when you just feel it and it takes confidence to make the move. Switching from heel to toe feels alien to begin with, but master it once and youve got it albeit with a few sore knees.
Heel edge is always more comfortable when starting out but your toe edge will become the more favoured side by far. More traction on the calfs and quads you see, heel edge only relies on the quads.