From 6'4'' Thruster to Longboard... Advice needed!

[AccessDenied]

To my fellow surfers willing to provide sound advice,

I'm 24 years old, about 200lbs, 6'2''. I live on the Eastern Shore (Maryland) - Favorite local spot to surf is Assateague Island.
My first time ever surfing was about 4 years ago. My brother threw me on a 6'0'' during a hurricane in late September. I had a 3/2 wetsuit with holes in it, two left handed gloves, and a 'pair' of boots (one was size 11, the other size 12). Needless to say, I barely made it past the break and just sat there wondering "What am I doing out here?!".
I paddled for a few, got destroyed, and came home wondering, "When can I go back!" But in all honesty I was excited for the next swell to hit, just hoping for a little bit smaller and calmer waves the next time around...
I've kept with my surfing over the years. I bought a used Cole BDIII a few years back. 5'5'' x 21.5'' x 2.75''. That board was fun, but I knew I needed to progress to a proper shortboard if I wanted to advance at all in the sport.
I bought a Firewire Alternator last year. 6'4'' 19.5'' 2.25''.
I love this board when the waves are big and steep. I need to lose a few pounds for this winter as paddling this thing with a 6/5/4 and hood/gloves/boots is brutal when the water is 30F...
Last time I went out my friend had a beat-up Walden on the beach. It was an 8' x ? x ?. I asked if I could take it out. I have never ridden a longboard (does this justify a longboard?). It was a three fin setup and the board had been buckled twice and had countless repairs. This board was stiff as a rock. Am I selling this board yet, sounds great right?! Actually... That was the most fun I've had in 4 years surfing.
My first wave I paddled for. Popped up, walked the plank and got 5 toes hanging and stepped back before the wave died out.
I thought, "Man have I been punishing myself the last few years by never giving these things a chance!"

I want to keep my Firewire thruster for bigger days, though I'd love to take a longboard out on the next overhead clean day and see what I can do.
The thing is, I have nowhere to start... I want to get a feel for the traditional style of surfing. I'm sold on a single-fin longboard. I have no idea what length or width or tail, etc.
I'll be surfing 99% of the time at Assateague Island, which is longboarder's heaven apparently.
I want to just cruise and walk the plank.
I want to nose-ride and feel loose on the board.

If you were in my shoes (sandy feet?) what would you be looking to buy?
Thanks for all the help,
all things considered, I'd like to buy a used board... I know there are some great East Coast shapers, but I just can't justify dropping $1200 on a longboard at this time. Maybe one day!

Cheers!
-Logan

[dtc]

http://www.surfoutlet.com/guides/how-to ... or-surfing (an article linked just the other day by another poster, Big H)

The thing about surfboards is that there are so many different makes and models and manufacturers, that recommending a particular board is pretty hard.

Boards designed to nose ride/walking the plank can range between quite specialised nose riding to more 'normal' longboards that you can probably nose ride on when conditions are good. Like everything, there is no one board that nose rides and is high performance and takes steep drops and turns on a dime. All boards will do those tasks, but some of them will be done better than others.

Do you want to focus on nose riding, or on something more general?

[AccessDenied]

Hey dtc, thanks for the comments!
I'm definitely looking for a more traditional longboard. Something dialed in for nose riding. I'll be using it on smaller days and when I just want to cruise and get loose. The shortboard will still be there for big heavy days where I need that agility and responsiveness.

I am really looking for a board to get in touch with the early days of surfing.
I'd love to buy a balsa wood single fin longboard. But those might be out of my budget...
Just trying to tap the minds of the community here on dimensions and things to avoid. I really don't know much about longboards.

thanks again,
cheers!

[Big H]

A quick aside; I see your location in your profile and it reminded me of some girls my friends and I picked up on the boardwalk in ocean city seniors week from the Delmarva beauty academy about 100 years ago. Hahahahahaha.......good times!

[waikikikichan]

Hey dtc, thanks for the comments!
I'm definitely looking for a more traditional longboard. Something dialed in for nose riding. I'll be using it on smaller days and when I just want to cruise and get loose.
Just trying to tap the minds of the community here on dimensions and things to avoid. I really don't know much about longboards.

"I don't know much about longboards" " but "I'm definitely looking for a more traditional longboard". ?? My advise would to get a all around longboard shape, squash tail with a 2+1 fin setup. Dimension wise, 9'0" x 23" x 3" ( give or take ) Save that classic 50/50 rail, concave nose, single fin for your next board, after you learn how to cross step and do pivot turns.

[dtc]

waikikikichan is a longboard champ (literally) and teacher, so follow his advice. What he has suggested is a pretty 'standard' longboard - what the vast majority of 9ft boards will be.

[AccessDenied]

Hey dtc, thanks for the comments!
I'm definitely looking for a more traditional longboard. Something dialed in for nose riding. I'll be using it on smaller days and when I just want to cruise and get loose.
Just trying to tap the minds of the community here on dimensions and things to avoid. I really don't know much about longboards.

"I don't know much about longboards" " but "I'm definitely looking for a more traditional longboard". ?? My advise would to get a all around longboard shape, squash tail with a 2+1 fin setup. Dimension wise, 9'0" x 23" x 3" ( give or take ) Save that classic 50/50 rail, concave nose, single fin for your next board, after you learn how to cross step and do pivot turns.

Thanks for the input!
I look forward to paddling out next, might be a small waves after this weekend...
I keep going back to Walden... Are there particular Longboard brands to avoid?

9' 23'' 3'' sounds good though.
I don't want anything much bigger than that. I might actually consider an 8' if the price is right..

Thanks again for the help!
Cheers!

[Big H]

I'm definitely looking for a more traditional longboard. Something dialed in for nose riding. I'll be using it on smaller days and when I just want to cruise and get loose. The shortboard will still be there for big heavy days where I need that agility and responsiveness.

Try it out in all kinds of surf; you might surprise yourself. Today is head high to two ft OH @16sec and I just loaded a 9'6" and a 7'8" in the car. Good times!