On the face of it, the Code X are entry level performance piste skis for recreational to advanced riders who like play around with their carve turns on groomed slopes. Whilst this is a fair statement, the Code X Red is also much more than that - surprising us with their performance characteristics, especially in shorter radius turns.
The first company to introduce rocker construction to the piste ski (formally the rocker was thought of as purely a way to help skis float in powder snow, not make the transaction from one turn to the next easier and smoother), Volkl have now taken things a step further and produced skis that combine power with accessibility.
Re-bound from one turn to the next is responsive, quick and snappy with an edge grip that slices into the snow like a knife through a hot raclette. The lightweight construction makes going from one turn to the next almost automatic.
Skiers looking to build confidence on groomed slopes but aren't afraid to push their limits and get aggressive with their turns once in a while will benefit from the performance of the Code X Red more than anyone, but we agreed that instructors would also utilise the skis ability to make life easy whilst remaining tuned up at a high level.
Build quality as you'd expect from Volkl feels solid and at £625 with bindings, they might not be the cheapest option in this category, but they still present excellent value for money.
One of our favourite piste skis of the 2017 ski test and one to watch out for in 2018.
