I've never seen this addressed, so are boots in their largest size stiffer than their smaller sizes in the way skis that are? I'm a bit on the larger size myself and have moved towards the longest stiffer skis even though I'm really just an intermediate skier. I've been in Lange RS 130's in 30.5 for the last 2 years in order to get good heel hold on my narrowish feet. At first my whole set up felt perhaps too stiff until I realized I could relax and let it rip with the support provided! By the end of that season, I felt a whole new sense of balance on my skis. I decided it was the boots more than the skis, but what do I know?