Merrill Hastings launched Rocky Mountain Skiing in 1948, a news-oriented magazine that soon developed into a national publication.

In the early years, the magazine was not entirely objective in its reviews, favoring resorts and equipment makers who advertised in its pages.

The company's owner, Bill Ziff, raided Ski magazine for experienced staff.

Luray, the first editor, wanted a slick magazine, but Ziff had decided it should be more serious, aimed at dedicated skiers, and he replaced Luray with Doug Pfeiffer, a ski school director from California.

[6] Under Ziff, in 1965, the magazine started to issue test reports on skis.