What is a good longboard for cruising freeride and doing tricks?

If by tricks you mean flip tricks, then I am no help. But if you mean sliding, and dancing then I'd say the Loaded Dervish is by far the best board, but expensive, my second recommendation would probably be the Landyatchz Drop Carve. Both solid boards for dancing and slides.
These boards are your best bet by far for a beginner.


As far as Freestyle and high speed stand up slides I'd rock a Rayne Nemesis,
And hands down hard wheel sliding, the Rayne Agent or Earthwing Corchia are solid boards.