I'm starting to look around for downsizing my JP 8'9 125l which i purchased 3yrs ago. Now I've completely lost the plot of companies, models, shapes and pricing of what is considered a good SUP. It use to be Naish, SB, Franatic, JP made the top boards and you just chose the wave board for your weight/height. Easy & happy.

Now boards vary so much in shape/model but website descriptions don't seem to differ greatly and pricing difference is huge. I cannot even go off volume or width anymore it seems. Weird name brands popping up all the time. East Coast brands get rave review not available of West Coast. Where do you start nowdays. Local dealers recommend the boards in stock but are they right for me?? I lost totally lost track of the market. SUP magazines don't seem to assist either.
reviews on seabreeze do seem slightly bias to folks spending their money and suddenly being very happy.

So where should i starting looking for a waveboard for good days at Margs, exmouth and in between. Looking for performance in Head high clean days or with small chop. I do like hard cut backs with rail buried. I'm not graceful, pretty stompy and very front footed (years of wavesailing). I'm 78kgs and the JP is too bounce on anything above shoulder for me. keeping the JP for small days. Like the look of the vanguard style boards only because they look odd but would a conventional board be better.

Any suggestions would be warmly welcomed. I only occasional get to Perth and never align with demo days so looking to narrow my choices for when i get to Perth next.