I like my skateboards how I like my women; cheap, used, humongous, and was bought in KMART during the 80's/90's.
I like my skateboards how I like my women; skinny and able to flip over real fast.
Whoever said you can't flip with an 8.5 is on some krill rock. I can flip a 10.5 like nothing. For OP a good 8.5ish deck is the powell skull and sword deck. I got it in red and it's the only board I've found in a couple years with the same sized nose and tail.