What is a really strong, lightweight skateboard that is good for a beginner ?

I would not recommend any sort of an element board. My friend had a helium and he snapped it in one week, boards usually last him three months. Anyways I'd say go with either a mystery, or a double impact. I've had both boards and they were both great. The double impact's pop lasted really, really long, and it was better than most boards I have had. The mystery's pop was also great, pretty much the same as the double impacts, maybe even better, but the double impact's pop lasted longer. The double impact board will last you longer, it lasted me about three and a half months, and usually a board lasts about a month for me. The mystery lasted a little over two months which is still good. Well the double impact is lighter, designed to keep pop for longer, and it is way harder to snap because of the carbon fiber discs. It's price tag is a little higher, it's like $75, while a mystery can cost $45-60. I'd recommend getting a board from ccs.com since they have some nice $45 team decks, and they've got the double impacts too. If you want a really light board you can get the almost uber light but that's out of your price range it's like $109, but I have no idea how good it is. I haven't had it, and neither has anybody I know, but I wouldn't spend that much on a board. So yeah either a mystery or an almost double impact is my recommendation. They are both great boards. I have a baker now, and it's alright too, but both these boards were better.