Just found my way over here from /r/surfing where someone posted a sweet longboarding video. I recently bought myself a http://www.skatewarehouse.com/Santa_Cruz_Collage_Pintail_Complete/descpage-SCCPCMP.html at a local shop and am now wondering if perhaps this was a purchase made in too much haste. The guys at the shop said it would be a great for a beginner, and so far I've been having fun with it, but I have many questions now.

First, is there a good comprehensive place for beginner info? I looked at some of the guides on the right but they don't really list my board type or explain some of the fundamentals.

What is the benefit of my type of board? Was this a good or a bad option for a beginner?

Will my spacers (I think they're spacers) loosen up a bit? I'd like to be able to make some sharper turns, but so far my board just isn't having it (it feels very stiff). I know a lot of that is me and my lack of skill, but I know part of it is that the board can only do so much.

Stopping. What do? Right now if I pick up any sort of speed I immediately put a foot down and act as if I were pushing off to gather speed (which because I'm going fast already just slows me down). This keeps me going at what I feel is a safe speed, but I'd like to be able to let loose a little bit and not feel like I was headed for certain death. What I've found on the nets seems to suggest that I need a glove and learn to do the thing where you put one hand on the ground and swing in a semi-circle with that hand as the pivot point. This scares me :P

Are there any sorts of drills or exercises you can recommend to make faster progress. Currently I try to go out and get at least a few rides a week, especially when the waves are flat, but if there is anything I could do in the lot behind my apartment or something for 10 minutes here or there I'd probably get a lot more practice in during my random free time.

Thanks all :)

Edit: Thanks all for the great responses so far! :)