What began simply enough as a fun race between a dozen outgoing New York Chefs who gathered to Hunter Mountain for dashes of camaraderie and healthful exercises the U.S. Chefs Ski Club has grown in stature and tradition, as well as prizes and trophies.

In the winter of 1975 the Chefs' Ski Race, created by Karl Plattner and founded by Jacky Ruette in honor of their injured colleague TV personality Chef Jacques Pepin attracted some two dozen top New York Chefs and Restaurateurs, including Andre Soltner of Lutece, Seppi Renggli of the Four Seasons, Sirio Maccioni of Le Cirque, the late Pierre Franey from the New York Times "60 Minute Gourmet", the late Fred Platzer from Restaurant Associates, writers and TV personalities to gather for an unusual Ski Race.

In 1983 the US Chef Ski Club was created to help the growth of the Anual Race.