1. Barbecues. Dining has long been thought of as an “indoor-only” activity. With the occasional exception for picnics, eating is generally done within the confines walls, and even then most of the food preparation is done indoors back at home. That is until summer. Even the most refined person can’t deny the allure of a summer evening barbecue. There is a simple equation to this: (Meat x Grill) + (Outside x Warm Weather) = Awesome!

2. Camping. Humanity’s hot-and-cold relationship with the greater outdoors is best exemplified in camping. It’s been approximately 10,000 years since the last ice age, and humans still harbor serious bitterness towards the outdoors. Reverting back to the Cro-Magnon lifestyle of living outside has never sound particularly appealing, especially falling asleep each night knowing there is a 50% chance a bear will at least consider eating you. Yet, for some reason each summer hordes of people head off into the wilderness to gift wrap themselves in REI sleeping-bags for the grizzlies. I used to go camping all the time when I was teenager with friends for one reason: no one can find you (particularly our parents.) Now as an adult I realize hiding out in the woods with the intent of never being found to get drunk and kick boulders is potentially dangerous. However, the deliciousness of s’mores cannot be denied, and neither can the opportunity for girls to pee standing up.

3. Cheep Beer. When is it socially acceptable to bring a case of Miller, The Champagne of Bottled Beers, to a party? Only in summer. During summer not only is it “okay,” but people are genuinely thrilled to have it, preferably served at a fore-mentioned barbecue or camping trip.

4. Fairs. Fairs are beautiful places. One can find a wide varied food, often unique only fairs. Onion blossoms, cotton candy, barbecue, and of course, funnel cake. And the deep-fried options are seemingly endless: deep-fried pickles, deep-fried twinkies, deep-friend oreos, deep-fried ice cream, deep fried candy bars, deep-fried bacon, and deep-fried shrimp, just to name a few. At some locations you can even bring your own goods to have deep-fried! Pure luxury. Moving past food, it is really the people at a fair that make it such an enjoyable experience. Carnies, fair workers, are some of the most interesting people in the world. Their backgrounds range from general crazy, teen runaway, outlaw, and social outcast. Next time you’re at a fair chat up a carnie, ask them where they’re from. That scab-ridden toothless man handing you greased rings to toss on coke bottles might actually be a gentleman and a scholar. Most are harmless.

5. Hammocks. Hammocks are the working cousins of beds. Perfectly designed for day naps and unintentionally getting to 2nd base, every summer enthusiast should have steady access to a hammock.

6. 4th of July. The 4th of July is one of the most underrated holidays ever. Often outshined by Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Thanksgiving, 4th of July offers a rare moment of unity for America. Celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Britain, the heroic actions of our forefathers must be remembered in the classiest of ways. Boozing it up in the back of a pick-up truck, with a tub of potato salad in your lap, and watching fireworks, duh. Even the people who threaten to move to Canada all the time love America on 4th of July!

7. Sundresses. For months cruel Mother Nature forced women to wear boner-killing sweaters and outerwear. With summer heating up ladies are finally able to shed their coats, dawn a sundress, and hopefully shave their legs somewhere in the middle. Girls enjoy sundresses because they show a lot skin without thinking they look slut-y. Dudes enjoy sundresses because they often do look slut-y and have high rate of nip-slips and crotch-shots. EVERYONE WINS! In my opinion, cute little sundresses can be added to this list of best things ever actually.

8. Shirt-less Dudes. You know he’s a douche. You know you would never actually date him. You do value the 10-hours a week he spends at the gym working out and would love to appreciate it, but from safe a distance. Summer is an open invitation for guys with nice physiques to show off, by removing their shirt in public places. Sure there are the couple wild-cards out there whose pale, flabby, and possibly hairy bodies aren’t visually pleasing, but kudos to them for their confidence! Shirt-less dudes to women are essentially sundresses to men. Thinly veiled as an attempt “cool-off” by removing their shirt, guys are just trying to prove their attractiveness. Now if only you could pretend he didn’t have a tribal tattoo…

9. Long Days/Late Nights. Thanks to the axis Earth’s rotation pattern around the sun, summer is blessed with long days and late nights. As the sun continues to set later and later into the evening more opportunities for debauchery become present. After all, how late can it really be if the sun is just setting? Or is it rising now? I can’t tell.

10. Summer Love. Sandy and Danny said it best, “Summer lovin’ had me a blast, Summer lovin’ happened so fast.” Just as the sun continues to lower itself closer towards Earth’s crust, as do people’s standards. It is scientific fact that during summer the desperation levels rise sharply. So ladies rock that sundress and dudes take off your shirt, because what is a summer without a few regrets? Combine any 4 of The Top 10 Things That Make Summer Awesome and you’re looking at a recipe for sweet-hot-loving success. For example: Fairs, Sundresses, Cheap Beer, and a Hammock, success. Or try: Long Days/Late Nights, Shirtless Dudes, Camping, and Barbecues, success. Disclaimer: *Results vary based on personal swag*. With hormones running rampant, you can’t help but catch a whiff of teen spirit. Just be careful out there this summer and always wear protection, because a broken heart can be fixed with time but that burning sensation could be there for a lifetime.

The VOTD comes from video artist Mike Petty. Petty’s piece, No Joy, focuses on the abandoned amusement park “Joyland” in Wichita, KS. The fun-house doors at Joyland closed in 2004, making it one of the longest running theme parks open for 55 years. As one of the United State’s largest theme parks, Joyland featured a variety of attractions including a wooden rollercoaster. Petty intentionally saturated the footage to remind viewers of the wonder they felt as child visiting theme parks. Despite the vibrant colors and familiar attractions, No Joy has an eerie feel to it.
Grab some cotton candy and enjoy!

No Joy from Mike Petty on Vimeo.

Here are a few lost and found shots from this past season at Park City. It’s been a crazy summer, I’m over the heat more than I can express into words, and its that time of year where Ive been itchin to get some skiing in. But for now i can just make videos and reminisce. ENJOY.

ZAK SHOTS. 910. from Zak Cedarholm on Vimeo.

DSSF PC CLOSER from Zak Cedarholm on Vimeo.

The Inglorious Edit from Giray Dadali on Vimeo.

As I look back to the past season one aspect stands out more than anything… having the most fun possible. I have never laughed so much in my entire life as I have just skiing with my friends this season. So heres :: THE INGLOURIOUS EDIT ::, just the past couple days of skiing and friends mixed with some epic nazi scaplin. More to come from DSSF riders Zak Cedarholm & Phil Green. ENJOY!

Mike Douglas and Cody Townsend are well known professional skiers, recently they have been spending some time in Maui, working on a new concept, Ski Surf. This then went to integrating a kite, and they did some kite surfing. I mean skiing on waves! How fucking crazy!

DSSF :: THE INFAMOUS from Zak Cedarholm on Vimeo.

How to look like a villian from a james bond film

I know it’s winter, and everyone is trying to get as much snow as el nino, and global warming will allow, this might make those days in the powder a little more enjoyable. The Cold Avenger is more then just a mask to make you look like a villain from a James Bond film, it’s a device that changes the cold air you breath in into warm air through a ventilation system. It’s about forty degrees warmer inside the mask on average. Usually, your lungs get a pounding from breathing in all the cold air and it exhausts your body while doing so, so instead the ventilation system keeps you in top shape, unless your smoking cigarettes. It’s got all kinds of science behind it, although, you will look like a generic snow henchman.