board well if starting i would look at a sector 60 or 66 . Both can be run in tri fin config and much easier and forgiving than a true race board . If you master that you can move up to a full on raceboard .

Kites well that comes down to personal preference . Ozone, RRD , Cab , airrush all make specific race kites or you can just use your normal quiver .

Did you used to race Hobies in the 80s?
You can start out on any race board old cheep or free race style but after about 3 or 4 months If you wanna get serious , :
You will end up with a race board that is 70cm wide, three fins, any from 2011 will be OK or even better one from 2012.
You will end up with at least 3 kites and better to be 4 for all conditions to maximise your practice, these will be higher aspect kites as they go up wind a bit better.
But be prepared to get out there and have about 10 sessions and generally wondering why the hell you bought one of these boards, then one day a few things will gel and it will all come together slowly, then when you start to not fall off as much you will be thinking how crazy fast are these things

If you not so serious the sectors are good all round intro to race on and also for light wind cruising plus they are easier to learn so you get going quicker and you can use what ever kites you already have.

And go to youtube and vimeo and search for "kite race" and watch a heap of videos, sort them by date and watch any from the last two years.
This one is from last week and has some good action, take note how fast they go upwind and how well the front runners are tacking


If you get on something in the next month I reckon you will be up to competing at Sail Melbourne in December, its gunna be a great event as our nationals had no wind everyone is so keen to see how we all go against each other