Pleased to say the SUP had arrived and is 'like new' - it's in the original box, but the box if a bit tatty so I expect this is a return that's been sat around. Accessories haven't been out the bag, not a mark on the paddle. Just a couple of marks on the board from being folded up and stored - looks to be in the original wrapping TBH.
Looks like we are being kicked off our caravan site in three weeks (static van is 20 years old) so the SUP will be travelling a bit more than intended and off to pastures new, rather than just North Wales.
PS I got sent an 'offer' after looking at them, and coupled that with a 15% off voucher from ebay. So at least wait for 'offers'.
It's not the stiffness that makes inflatables poor on the face of a wave. The sides are nearly square so there is no rail to push down to enable a turn. You are forced to use the paddle and body weight, but they will never surf like a rigid. Rocker is built into dedicated wave SUPs which also helps.
You can catch a wave and ride it in , but you will be limited to what you can do once up on the face. Basically running along on it , in pretty much a straight line.
It's New SUP Day here (well new to me anyway). Picked up an ex-demo Fanatic Ray Air Premium with carbon 35 paddle for £550, one of these -
https://www.k66surfdivision.com/collections/sup-inflatables/products/package-ray-air-premium-c35