Im 5'9" 160 and I use the 2011 183s as an everyday ski. I have a pure racing background and am pretty aggressive and I almost find them a little to short sometimes. Yet it is still a fun ski: damp, not to soft, can hold its own in anything but blower powder, and an all around good resort ski. I don't ski much park on them since I blew my knee last year but I imagine they would be somewhat on the heavier side. Solid ski and I would recommend it for someone my size or smaller looking for an everyday ski out west. Maybe you could handle it since you live on the east coast.