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If you do buy a used board the things to look out for;
the base (meaning the underside, or bottom of the board) shouldn't have any really deep gashes. Some minor ones will be normal, but the smoother the better.
Also the edges; in front of and behind the bindings there will be a metal strip along the edge which makes contact with the snow when turning. It should be intact without any major gashes, rust, or the like. It might be dull, but a normal tune up will take care of that.
If there are problems with the edges around the nose/tail it's not such a big deal, likely from collisions with something, and won't affect the performance of the board.
Finally, the binding bolt inserts. If you can, bring a bolt with you, and make sure the threads are true and relatively clean. Also check if the wrong size bolts were used before. If they have been there will be bulges on the underside of the base. Could be a problem.
You don't want to buy a board that has been ridden all the time for years, so in general if it looks 'well traveled' I'd skip it and move on. The flex will be tired and it won't have any pop.
I think a used board is a good idea when starting out, spend as little as possible. You won't notice the performance differences until you get good anyhow. See if you like the sport first. I bought a semi one directional Burton from a sports consignment store back when, good times.
Also shorter is better for beginners IMO. Easier to turn, maneuver, and manage. As a beginner there is no benefit to having a long board. It will be more stable at high speeds in the future.
Good luck!
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