Surfing Waves

I recently went to surf camp for a week and want to buy a board.
I'm in the beginner to intermediate stage. I can spot waves and get up on my own power. Success is at about 50% of catching vs. not catching the wave. Not turning or anything yet. Just catching it, straight on or going at an angle.

I rode 10 foot and a 9 foot Walden Long board. I liked them both and would prefer to get a long board.
However, I live in New York and don't have a car. So I'll have to take public transportation/ mass transit / commuter rail to Long Beach New York and would like to get a smaller sized board for transporting.
(I'll rent a long board for a few weeks, but eventually I'll want to buy my own.)

Any recommendations for smaller sized boards with good volume?
Also, what size volume do you recommend?
I liked the stability of the long board. Both were 3 inches or more.

I've read so much and it's a bit overwhelming. I know some boards or shapers actually put the thickness, or the foam in the front portion of the board for bigger guys to help with floatation and to help beginners catch wave. But I cant tell which one's they are?

Stats
Male
40 years old
Fit and Athletic
Height 6'4 / 193 CM
Weight 190 Pounds / 86 kg

Some I found are the
Walden 7'6 MEGA MINI MAGIC SLX
https://www.waldensurfboards.com/collec ... -magic-slx

6'10 MEGA MINI MAGIC SLX
https://www.waldensurfboards.com/collec ... -magic-slx

Rusty Zepplin
http://www.rustysurfboards.com/zeppelin/

Channel Island M 13
http://www.cisurfboards.com/surfboards/ ... p/the-m13/

So u need a board that's build for being short yet carries a lot of volume. The Firewire Addvance is designed for that, check it out. It will be a bit harder (more dynamic) to surf than a 10 foot Walden though..

The boards you posted would be good transition boards for you, but at this stage I wouldn't recommend any of those. No disrespect intended, but you're still a beginner(you're not turning yet and had one week of surf camp) and getting a smaller board at this stage will only hinder your progression. Although I totally get where you're coming from(living in NY w/ no car), the size of the board you choose shouldn't be based on convenience of transport. Not sure what options you have over at your break, but perhaps you can go out and rent a similar sized board(s) and see how it works out for you. At least get some first hand experience before pulling the trigger on the purchase.

Mini magics and the addvance have a lot of flotation in a short package; I think you're on the right track there. I'd go for a blunt nosed shape over a pointy one to maximise the stability of the board.

That 6'10" no matter the volume is going to be tough for you, especially if you're only out 2-3x per week (my guess is a lot less than that so you get my meaning).

You need to figure FIRST, what is the maximum size you can take on the train. Here in Japan it's 2 meters which is about 6'6". Then get the widest thickest board you can put your arm around.

But no matter you find, it will not be good for a Beginner like you. But if I had no board and was crazy to get into the waves, I'd even go borrow McDonald's tray and jump into the beach break. So keep the stoke. It's gonna be very hard ( and you probably won't catch waves ), but better than sitting on the beach