Opinion on Korua Bullet Train Plus with Union Atlas FC

Hey all, first post here, hoping I can get some advice and when the next season comes round and I can go more often again actively participate a bit more as I progress

At the moment the end of season sales are going on in Japan and I’ve decided I want to be more carve focussed so have been spending some cash but starting to second guess myself and have a bit of buyers remorse

Me -

I’ve been snowboarding a few years, currently can keep up with other snowboards I’d consider advanced (not expert). Easy enough to do linked turns down black runs (Japan grade), back/side country powder, tree runs and stuff like that, not elite but good enough to hold my own in most circumstances

When I started I was on a boat of a Salomon Subject, being an ex-surfer I paired it with the Salomon hologram bindings due to the Kevlar heel cup

Fast forward a couple seasons and trying to get into jumps/park cause the piste was “boring” (not knowing about carving then) I bought a Bataleon Evil Twin 154, swapped my hologram bindings to that in duck stance (+12 -12) and used it for a while then wanted to try a powder and trench digger so picked up a K2 Excavator 150 and Union Atlas bindings which I ride full backset at posi posi 27/12

Been using a combination of those boards for the past couple years but found the last 2 seasons I’m not really enjoying my time on the Bataleon and even off powder days find myself preferring to spend time on the groomers working on carving and higher speed turns (kinda started when I stumbled over James’ YouTube videos and tried to implement those).

Now I know the excavator is a short volume shifted board and I’ve also got it full setback for powder so it’s not ideal for carving, I’ve been laying some lines but, given the long fat nose and the short tail, can lose the back end (either chattering or sliding), it’s not like I lose it and wipe out but the tracks often certainly aren’t clean or pencil

Because I can’t be bothered to reset the bindings all the time I decided to take advantage of the sales and just buy stuff dedicated to carving so next season, on non powder days, I focus on that with a dedicated set-up instead of messing around in the park given that I don’t have the interest to try progress further there.

So pretty much cliche route of boat, park, powder then carving

So, with the background out the way, my stats are 178cm tall, around 82-85kg, tend towards fit/muscular but more-so upper body (I’m naturally “carrot shaped”), size 8 boot and am pretty flexible so the torsion/rotation is no problem for me (result of doing a kick based combat sport for many years)

I’ve bought a bunch of stuff but not had the chance to try any of it yet so second guessing myself

• The board is a used 2023 Korua Bullet Train Plus (the one with the titanium inserts) in pretty immaculate condition. Couple scratches on the top deck but the base and edges are almost flawless. Most reviews say it’s a great carving board but not for the faint hearted
• Bindings I found an absolute steal on unused 2022 Union Atlas Forged Carbons. They’re apparently crazy stiff (comparable to the flux XV), I like Union and find they’re good quality and usually very adjustable but the biggest flaw is the FC can’t rotate the high backs which makes me wonder about high posi-posi, for the 27 on my atlas I’ve had to rotate them cause the alignment was way out
• Boots I’ve not got new ones, I’m in 3 year old Adidas Tactical Lexicon Advance lace-ups which have seen many many days on the slopes. But I did buy Powerride Type R boot stiffeners, velcro boot straps and a shinguard for the front leg (tip from James’ Interface video)
• Because my boot size is small and the board waist is 269mm I’ve not gone for risers

I’ll be starting at 27/12 55cm stance same as now then try to dial it in from there as I improve

So I guess now I’m wondering, considering I’ve not had the chance to try it, if I’ve taken the right approach

• Is this too much for someone still working on their skills?
• Should I have got more forgiving kit?
• Will the bindings work on a 27/12 or more given the high backs don’t rotate so won’t align with the board edge

Basically trying to figure out if I’ve jumped in too far too fast and made my life more difficult or whether I’m on the right track