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AndyrooMac said..
Whilst this is a lb forum my advice would be, don't buy a longboard to learn on. I see people do this all the time and it just doesn't really work, dramatically slows down your progression.
If you are starting off your better off with an 7'5" - 8' chunky board somewhere in the 50l range, ideally a modern foamy like a Mick Fanning for example, you'll even see many experienced surfers riding these as they are all made and proper surf designs... Once your up abs trimming and progressing then decide if you want to learn the art of longboarding or if you want to go shorter... Or both.
These boards are far more forgiving and manageable and your less likely to damage yourself and others... But the main reason is they are MUCH easier to get in proper trim, you can basically pop up anywhere on them and ride a wave with decent efficiency which is why the surf schools use them...
With a Longboard, anything 9' plus you need to move forward and backwards on the board to obtain trim and to turn, if you don't they just push water and bog down and you'll just continue riding the whitewater, and you don't want that. Once you get that first clean water ride down the face of a wave in proper trim, there really is no going back, it's an incredible sensation...
I would also recommend one on one lessons with a local instructor... This will stop you learning bad habits that later are much harder to correct age also teach you the etiquette of the lineup which is super important. Half a dozen lessons will seriously save you years of heartache and years of slow progression, worth every penny...
Anyways, enjoy the journey dude...
Best advice for beginners right here
A mal is is not a great way to learn unless you surf tiny weak waves
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,hope you do well with what you bought