they feel really soft if you just stand there and flex them but they ski much much stiffer. i was a bit hesitant when i initially mounted mine up last winter, but once i got them on the snow they were fine. i'm 5'11" and around 180 and they supported my weight just fine. i skied them nearly every day at either abay, keystone, breck, or loveland pass. unless you're a serious big mountain charger, there's no way that these skis will not be enough.