120ltr JP xcite ride or 122ltr Starboard carve, perfect for lakes and a bit of playing in the sea

Go with the advice you have gotten so far

Modern slalom boards are easier than 90's ones. Wider means more stability and better upwind but you can have tuck on the rails. I haven't had a board trip in years (touch wood), but it was a relatively common thing when pushing the old stuff.

Modern freerace stuff is quick & nice to use. For a given volume the freerace stuff is often about 5cm narrower (so can be slightly better in the chop) than the full on slaloms which are designed to have good acceleration etc. Speeds wont be that different unless you spend time on board & many of the freerace boards & sails are actually quicker on average.

The freerace stuff is also built a bit sturdier than the full on stuff. The biggest problem is fins if you have tuttle, alot of the freerace boards are still trimbox.

Thumbs up for the F2 RX, Fanatic Ray & Naish Grand Prix (im a little biased but they are all solid, fast & nice to use). Although a little old the Starboard S-types were good, don't know if the replacement (Futura) is quite as aggressive. Havent ridden the JP's.

Obviously there are alot of cheap slalom boards around at the moment because racing is quite popular. All are certainly user friendly enough, it is just how solid the boards are is the problem.

My one tip with them all is use longer harness lines than you used to, start with 26's

come to think of it have we aleady met

See if you can get to the GC before Surf Fx have to give up the JP trailer. I think they still have a few days left.
Call Greeny and find out, but with good wind in the next few days, you might get lucky.
FRee-style wave boards are very user friendly for returning sailors. Worked for me after a nearly 6 year break. Not as fast as a slalom board, but very good for B&J stuff also, and very forgiving.

stanly said...

Thanks for the advise everyone - maybe freerace is the way to go.
Hi vando, yes I think we met back in Sep.
Used to sail at Wello heaps (and Margate after work in the late 80's). Orignally learnt in Auckland in 85 and moved over here after expo (but don't hold that against me). Also used to do a bit of wave sailing up and down the Gold Coast and North NSW, and sometimes used to go up to Pumistone Passage.
I am very amazed at how the skill is still there especially gybing, it is like riding a bike. The only thing that is missing is the fitness especially doing light wind waterstarts, but I am sure I'll get that back after this summer.
Have been teaching my son the past few weekends at wello, and looking forward to the next sat or sun with some decent wind, hopefully this weekend. Planning on going to Wello this Sunday.

Wasn't for me..[}:)]
Still I got back into it after a 10 year break on my old 90's gear.On recommendations here I upgraded to some Tabou Rocket freeride boards & they are SO user friendly & darn fast enough for me! I used to have a firbreglass windaction 9' slalom in the 90's before I got waveboards. Even though my gybes are average the boards are very easy to gybe & pretty forgiving.Heaps easier than my 90's boards.

welcome back son

It doesn't matter if you use old boards or new, just get back into it!
I had a break of 10 years and am loving being back on the water.
Most of the technique you don't forget, except for the more exacting moves.