News

Extreme Ironing. Planking is so 2011

by TheSkiMonster
Jun 6th 2012 - 0 comments

Planking was all the rage last summer, then came owling in July, batmanning in August and Tebowing in the fall. But what is going to be the thing to do this Summer?  Extreme Ironing.  Ironing is a difficult thing to do in general, at least for me it is, and it's been taken to the next level.  Don't leave your ironing board and wrinkled button-down shirt at home next time you decide to do get your adrenaline fix.  Bring it and make sure your friend has a camera and you'll be guaranteed a photo that will make all your followers say 'WTF?!'.

Never Summer Longboards

by TheSkiMonster
Jun 6th 2012 - 0 comments

Never Summer Longboards are some of the best in the world. Their longboards have revolutionized the industry through the company's commitment to innovation and design. Never Summer Industries is located in Denver, Colorado, so that makes these decks certified,"Made in the USA".

TheSkiMonster focuses on carrying the best brands and the highest quality equipment for our customers, and Never Summer fits the mold. The company delivers exceptional products with a fantastic service team to back it up. So starting summer 2012 (which is right now), TheSkiMonster is carrying Never Summer's longboard line-up. While patiently waiting for the snow to fall, pass the time this summer by getting out on a Never Summer deck. Shredding pavement has never been more fun.

Shop Never Summer Longboards.

Best Boardshorts of 2012

by TheSkiMonster
Jun 5th 2012 - 0 comments

When ushering in a new season, there is always the waiting game for the weather to turn favorable. The excitement of new activities are on the horizon and you just need mother nature to start cooperating. During the anxiety of spring, there isn't much to do except plan for summer fun and acquire appropriate gear for warmer weather. If you spend most of your weekends on water, you understand the importance of quality boardshorts. Having a solid boardshort rotation is key to your summer successes. There are shorts made for every occasion, and you need to be sure all your bases are covered before the temperature starts to rise.

These are five of the Best Boardshorts of 2012. All serve a particular purpose and will ensure that your summer wardrobe is top-notch.

Hurley Phantom Hex Boardshorts

The Hurley Phantom Hex is a fantastic everyday boardshort. Made with 85% polyester / 15% spandex, Hurley's Phantom 4-way stretch and a 21" outseam, these shorts fit well and are extremely comfortable. The boardshorts have a seamless design as well as a zip cargo pocket. Having a zipper pocket is extremely under-rated in the boardshort world. Being able to carry your personal belongings with the security of a zipper is phenomenal! The zip pocket really adds to the everyday functionality of the Phantom Hex. Hurley offers the shorts in three color-ways. I went with the multi, but all of the options look pretty sick.





Billabong Platinum X - R U Serious Boardshorts

The Billabong R U Serious boardshorts look more like a cotton lifestyle short than a swimsuit. The print gives the shorts an everyday-type presentation, but are actually made with Billabong's H2 Repel and Hydrostrech technology. The boardshorts are 100% polyester and have a 22" outseam, which is a slightly longer fit than most boardshorts on the market. They come in a variety of different color-ways but I think the mint, lime and americana are the best options. (All three shown below)





Rip Curl Mirage Tangent Boardshorts

Rip Curl says these shorts are "like wearing nothing", and to be honest they might be on to something. Theses boardshorts are super lightweight and incredibly stretchy. The Mirage is made with Rip Curl's Hydrophobic Fabric, Stichless Seam technology and Illusion Seam Tape. By the use of heat welding and flexible stretch tape, these shorts are absolutely seamless. The construction and functionality of these boardshorts makes Mirage Tangent perfect for surfing, wakeboarding and any other aquatic activity.



Billabong Stars N Stripes Boardshorts

American flag steeze. The Stars N Stripes shorts are all black and whited out! Made with 100% polyester and a 20" outseam, they fit a little shorter than most boardshorts but the style points out-weight any fit issues you may have. These are my go to shorts for all summer holidays and large gatherings, and an obvious choice for America's birthday. If you don't already own a pair of American flag shorts (you should if you call yourself an American), check out Billabong's 2012 black and white edition. 



O'Neill Hangover Boardshorts

The O'Neill Hangover Boardshorts are designed with a beer pong/beer bong style print. They are made with 100% polyester, Velcro fly and have a 21" outseam. They come fully equipped with a limited edishhh O'Neill beer pong ball, so you can be ready for any spontaneous lake or poolside ponging. I suggest pairing the Hangover Boardshorts with a Tuxedo T-Shirt because it says you're formal, but you like to party.

Top Five Tuesday: Week 11

by TheSkiMonster
Jun 5th 2012 - 0 comments

It's been doing nothing but rain the last many days in the Boston area, so this week I tried to find some tracks that sound a little more like sunny California than rainy Seattle.  It's supposed to be sunny this weekend so hopefully you can enjoy whatever Summer activity it is you do.  If you're not in Boston, it's probably been Sunny so these songs will be right in tune with what you have been experiencing weather wise.  

Alesso the rising star in the EDM world and Veteran Dirty South came together on this track, City of Dreams, and it's nothing short of spectacular.



Madeon just posted this up on Facebook late last week, saying that it was a very different sound.  The sound is off the hook, and still has that Madeon Glitch sound to it but with a Swedish inspiration if you will, Madeon is French BTW.  Madeon tweeted that he started writing this track in February 2011, he was 16 then.



DJ Kue has been releasing everything from Disco to Progressive and Electro House the last few months.  On this production Kue gets back to what he is originally known for and that's deep hitting Electro.



Morgan Page is sick, and HLM gave his song Body Work some serious bounce, your head will nod violently, could be confused for a zombie.



Joe Maz sounds better loud on a big system.  Turn up the JL audio and hit the gas.

Where to Ski: Loon Mountain Resort, New Hampshire

by TheSkiMonster
Jun 3rd 2012 - 1 comments

 


Loon Mountain Resort in Lincoln, New Hampshire is one of the true entry points to The White Mountains. The White Mountains, along with The Presidential Range have a reputation for some of the worst, most unpredictable weather in the world. Loon Mountain is not setting any records for wind speed or other extreme weather conditions but don’t let this little New Hampshire gem get away from you. When asked where to ski for a thrill, maybe a chill, but a really good hill, I recommend Loon Mountain.

 

Accessibility is the first thing I think of when Loon comes to mind. It's literally right off exit 32 from I-93, hence the Exit 32 sticker you and your buddies might have seen on the back of some rusted out 4Runner. It’s also a reference to the Kancamagus Highway which, in sort of a nostalgic way, acts as an access road to one of New Hampshire’s finest ski areas.

 

How to Ski: Loon Mountain Resort, Lincoln, New Hampshire.

 

It depends on the day and the people you're with but breakfast, either way is a must. It’s just too easy, because you have to drive through the center of town to get to the hill. On the franchise side of things, who can beat a McDonald’s hash brown, seriously? On the support small, local business’ side of things, Half Baked & Fully Brewed has sandwiches, panini’s, bagels, muffins coffee and a staff of ladies that are truly out of this world. The funny thing is, it will probably take just as long to get a hash brown out of the worlds slowest McD’s as it would for a homemade Yum, Yum from HB&FB

 

Once everyone’s fed and it's mid week (non-holiday) It comes time to pick which lodge to operate out of for the day. This will have an impact on which side of the lot you park on. On the weekends this won’t be an issue because the only options will be to park far away or farther away. If anyone in your group or family has to rent skis or a snowboard you will want to head to the Kancamagus lodge on the skier's right side of the main parking lot. I personally like the Octagon Lodge on the skier’s right side of the parking lot. The gondola is located right next to it and the bar (The Paul Bunyan Room) is just above it.

 

Hop on the gondola and shoot up to the top of the mountain. Once up top, traverse over to the North Peak Express Quad. The run under the lift is usually in some form of the term “rough shape” so continue your traverse over to Lower Walking Boss, a nice wide blue to get warmed up on. Do your best to make a bunch of turns to get warmed up, Loon is west facing which means a cold morning is a really cold morning. The Walking Boss Woods are a fairly new glade on skier’s right that has some really fun sections; hit ‘em if you’re up to it! Once you’re at North Peak I recommend lapping it at least once and making a B-Line for it on Brookway, the mellow run-out to the base area, to warm up on the gondi.

 

Now that you’re back at the summit, it’s time to head down Angels St., A killer black diamond with a super fun pitch. This trail is tough to lap due to the east basin double not being open very often; this also means it’s lapped less often so the snow holds really well on this north-western facing slope. I usually head over to South Peak after lunch, it’s a bit of a commitment to head over to South Peak but the new terrain Loon has been opening on this hill has been phenomenal. Ripsaw is Loon's only double black diamond and it is located right underneath the Lincoln Express Quad. I have seen this trail totally groomed out and totally bumped up, either way it holds true to its name and rips! Boom Run is also a blast and seems to always have a ton of whales to play on for the better part of the trail.

 

The terrain parks Loon Mountain has to offer are some of the best on the east coast. These are some of the biggest most, stable jumps I have gotten to ride and they are consistently in great shape. Loon also seems to have an endless array of jibs and rails which they are constantly revamping and recreating to keep things interesting, serious props to the park crew. I also like the fact that they manage to squeeze a nice little half pipe in at the bottom of the park. So many days, I have wrapped up at Loon with one last run through the pipe…if you can think of a better way to end a day, let me know, I’m open to suggestions.

 

Before leaving town the Woodstock Inn and Brewery is a must for anyone who eats. Packed full of Hearty cooked meals and homebrews, this place is sure to please the hungriest of shredders.

Apres Ski at Slopeside - Bretton Woods, Mt Washington

by TheSkiMonster
Jun 1st 2012 - 0 comments

Bretton Woods, located in the shadow of Mount Washington, is New Hampshire's largest ski area. It is a fantastic resort for families and large groups of intermediate level skiers. The ski resort offers exceptional views of Mount Washington and 464 acres of ski-able terrain. Bretton Woods is not far from North Conway, NH, which is a great place to find a variety of dining and lodging options. Before venturing away from the resort, check out Slopeside Bar for an on-the-mountain Après Ski experience.

Slopeside is located on the second floor of the main base lodge. It has a vintage ski lodge feel, with post and beam high ceilings and a large stone fireplace. Slopeside has a great menu and serves standard Après fare. The full menu is available all-day if you prefer a restaurant style lunch, instead of the first floor cafeteria. The bar has full selection of craft beers as well as many liquor options.

The best part about Slopeside is that it provides a plethora of seating options, which all have entertaining views. If you opt for indoor seating, you can choose between the bar, general dining area as well as near the indoor rock wall… yes, and indoor rock wall. The indoor rock wall extends up from the first floor and is perfect size for kids and ambitious adults looking to have a good time. The wall is usually a pretty popular Après spot, and watching people try their luck is a good time. If rock walls aren't your cup of tea, there are always plenty of bar seats that have multiple televisions for viewing. The other seating options take you outside onto the deck. The second floor deck provides views of afternoon skiers trying to squeeze in a few more turns, as well as the finish to Bretton Woods zip-line canopy tour. Watching people come flying down the zip-line is a great way to enjoy a cocktail and end another incredible day on the mountain.

Apres Ski: Slopeside - Bretton Woods, Mt Washington

by TheSkiMonster
Jun 1st 2012 - 0 comments

Bretton Woods, located in the shadow of Mount Washington, is New Hampshire's largest ski area. It is a fantastic resort for families and large groups of intermediate level skiers. The ski resort offers exceptional views of Mount Washington and 464 acres of ski-able terrain. Bretton Woods is not far from North Conway, NH, which is a great place to find a variety of dining and lodging options. Before venturing away from the resort, check out Slopeside Bar for an on-the-mountain Apres Ski experience.

Slopeside is located on the second floor of the main base lodge. It has a vintage ski lodge feel, with post and beam high ceilings and a large stone fireplace. Slopeside has a great menu and serves standard Après fare. The full menu is available all-day if you prefer a restaurant style lunch instead of the first floor cafeteria. The bar has full selection of craft beers as well as many liquor options.

The best part about Slopeside is that it provides a plethora of seating options, which all have entertaining views. If you opt for indoor seating, you can choose between the bar, general dining area as well as near the indoor rock wall… yes, and indoor rock wall. The indoor rock wall extends up from the first floor and is perfect size for kids and ambitious adults looking to have a good time. The wall is usually a pretty popular Après spot and watching people try their luck is a good time. If rock walls aren't your cup of tea, there are always plenty of bar seats that have multiple televisions for viewing. The other seating options take you outside onto the deck. The second floor deck provides views of afternoon skiers trying to squeeze in a few more turns, as well as the finish to Bretton Woods zip-line canopy tour. Watching people come flying down the zip-line is a great way to enjoy a cocktail and end another incredible day on the mountain.

Five Hour Friday: Week 8

by TheSkiMonster
Jun 1st 2012 - 0 comments

June 1st, it's not officially summer yet, but it sure feels like it.  The weekend is upon us and we got some fresh music for your ear drums to get you going.  It's Five Hour Friday people, enjoy!

The Miami Ski Team, just by their name alone could probably dominate the playlists of skiers everywhere, but they also are killer producers and dope DJs so it's an easy add to your iPod.  



DJ Breeazy makes it back into Five Hour Friday with his most recent mix, Bass to you Face.  We're unsure if he means bass, as in a bass fish, to your face.  Tweet at him for clarification.  



Been listening to this mix all week on BPM.  It's Avicii, it's good.  



This is a cool mix.  It's an 8bit themed mix so any EDM song that has been produced with an 8bit 'crushed' sounding synth made the cut.  8bit video game clips also in there... Obiviously.



Benzi dropped this mix a few months ago, but it's sounding really good right about now.  Enjoy.

Where to Wakeboard: A Bucket List

by TheSkiMonster
May 31st 2012 - 0 comments

Visiting different ski areas throughout the winter is part of the skiing experience. Each individual area has good and bad runs, secret local spots and parts of the mountain you avoid at certain times of day. Every ski resort you visit is fun and has unique qualities. Some places are more impressive than others, but other areas are perfect for the type of skier demographic that they cater to.

We view lakes as the ski areas of summertime. All of the lakes we visit have similar characteristics to ski resorts. Busy weekend traffic, Apres locations, breathtaking scenery and of course ideal shredding spots. During the summer months, wakeboarding and wakesurfing are a big part of TheSkiMonster's weekly activities. In search of epic wakeboarding locations, we have brought the boat to numerous locations throughout New England and beyond. We have found some pretty incredible places to ride, but there are still hundreds of spots around the world that we would love to experience. I have put together this bucket list of ridiculous riding locations that I hope to one-day claim as officially shredded.

Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada: I have skied the mountains of Lake Tahoe, and would love an opportunity to ride the lake. The deep blue water and Sierra Nevada back-drop look unbelievable.









Lake Como, Italy: This lake is surrounded by an unreal landscape and is the largest lake in Italy. It was formed by a glacier and is over 1300ft deep. Plus... George Clooney lives there, so you know it's legit.









Lake Powell, Utah/Arizona: Lake Powell, located on the boarder of Utah and Arizona, is the second largest man made reservoir in the USA. It is a reservoir of the Colorado River and was formed by the flooding of Glen Canyon. This lake looks incredible and seems to offer primo riding spots. I have seen this place in wakeboarding pictures and videos, but have yet to make the journey.









Lake Bled, Slovenia: This lake sits in the Julian Alps in northwest Slovenia. There is a medieval castle located on an island in the middle of the lake. The castle is only accessible by boat and has a massive staircase that leads directly from the water to the front door. This island is positioned perfectly for a giant wakesurf loop. I need to lap this medieval castle before my surfing days are done.









Lake Malawi, Africa: Lake Malawi or Lake Nyasa is located between the countries of Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania. It is one of the continent's great lakes and is the third largest lake in Africa. Not only is in one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, it is home to over 1000 species of fish. This lake is like a freshwater tropical oasis with open water that is calling out to wakeboarders everywhere. I'm not sure if it has ever been done, but riding this gorgeous lake would be an all-time adventure. Just watch out for the Hippos that patrol the waters of this exotic wakeboarding destination.









Lake Michigan, USA: Lets be honest, the first time anyone saw the classic pop-culture movie, "American Pie 2", they instantly wanted to go party on Lake Michigan. Of course the movie wasn't actually filmed on Lake Michigan, but it didn't stop me from wanting to rent a lake house and throw a massive rager. I've heard there are awesome parties on Lake Michigan that every boater needs to go to, as well as some fantastic areas to wakesurf. The lake scene around Chicago seems ideal for some incredible wakesurf runs. Being able to capture an entire surf run with the Chicago sky-line as the back drop would be epic!









Blue Lake, Florida: This lake's water resembles the caribbean and was featured in professional wakeboarder Danny Harf's movie, "Defy". Blue Lake seems to be a popular spot for pro's because of its secrecy and exclusivity. All I need to do now is learn how to ride like Danny Harf and maybe I'll be invited to this extraordinary Florida oasis. Hey, crazier things have happened.

Where to Store Skis in the Summer

by TheSkiMonster
May 31st 2012 - 0 comments

Storing your skis properly in the Summer can help your skis last much longer.  Even if you're replacing your skis every year (cough cough and buying them from The Ski Monster cough cough) having your back up pair or 'rock skis' in better shape is always a good thing.  When thinking about where you should store your skis in the Summer, think about where you would keep your dog if you were to run out for a long day of errands.  You wouldn't put your dog in the garage, it's hot in there.  You wouldn't put your dog in the attic either, that's way too hot and a little weird.  The Basement, sure if there is carpet or a mat for it to lay down and rest on.  Don't forget the dog needs food and water too.

Food and water to a dog is what wax is to skis.  Skis should be waxed prior to storing them for the Summer.  Don't worry about scraping, the excess wax is a great protective barrier.  The wax on the skis will help keep the moisture in the bases, the excess wax on the edges will keep them from getting rusty and gross.

Dogs don't like to be hot and neither do skis.  Keeping your skis in the garage or attic can cause them to sweat, that little bit of moisture the skis have in their bases that's keeping them healthy wants to get out.  If you have ever noticed the bases of your skis looking white and fuzzy it's because they are dry aka unhealthy.  

The best place to store your skis during the off season is in a temperature controlled environment that is away from the sun; such as your bedroom, closet or even underneath your bed.  It is best not to store them on concrete, the concrete releases a lot of moisture and can cause the edges closest to the concrete to rust.  Treat your skis well and they will last much longer.  Skis can only be tuned so many times, every time they are tuned material is taken away from the skis, keep your skis and healthy to get as much time out of them as possible. 

Ski Storage: Summer Care

by TheSkiMonster
May 31st 2012 - 0 comments

Storing your skis properly in the Summer can help your skis last much longer.  Even if you're replacing your skis every year (cough cough and buying them from The Ski Monster cough cough) having your back up pair or 'rock skis' in better shape is always a good thing.  When thinking about where you should store your skis in the Summer, think about where you would keep your dog if you were to run out for a long day of errands.  You wouldn't put your dog in the garage, it's hot in there.  You wouldn't put your dog in the attic either, that's way too hot and a little weird.  The Basement, sure if there is carpet or a mat for it to lay down and rest on.  Don't forget the dog needs food and water too.

Food and water to a dog is what wax is to skis.  Skis should be waxed prior to storing them for the Summer.  Don't worry about scraping, the excess wax is a great protective barrier.  The wax on the skis will help keep the moisture in the bases, the excess wax on the edges will keep them from getting rusty and gross.

Dogs don't like to be hot and neither do skis.  Keeping your skis in the garage or attic can cause them to sweat, that little bit of moisture the skis have in their bases that's keeping them healthy wants to get out.  If you have ever noticed the bases of your skis looking white and fuzzy it's because they are dry aka unhealthy.  

The best place to store your skis during the off season is in a temperature controlled environment that is away from the sun; such as your bedroom, closet or even underneath your bed.  It is best not to store them on concrete, the concrete releases a lot of moisture and can cause the edges closest to the concrete to rust.  Treat your skis well and they will last much longer.  Skis can only be tuned so many times, every time they are tuned material is taken away from the skis, keep your skis and healthy to get as much time out of them as possible. 

Edit of The Week: Phase 5's Drew Danielo

by TheSkiMonster
May 30th 2012 - 0 comments

Drew Danielo, a household name in the wakesurfing commmunity is one of the best wakesurfers in the world, his trophy case and edits are proof of that.  Drew can do more tricks on his wake surf board than most skateboarders can do at the skatepark.  If you're looking for a lesson, Drew 6x World Wakesurf champ will be teaching people how to wakesurf on Lake Weir on Thursday June 28th from Noon to 7pm, only 50 bucks for a 1.5 hour lesson!  If you're not in the Lake Weir area on June 28th watch the edit and it might have you making travel plans so you can learn how to wake surf like a champ.  

This edit features Phase 5 team riders Drew Danielo and Max Smeets.  I'm signing off, filling up the boat with gas and working on my 360's.  

DieHard Portable Power

by TheSkiMonster
May 29th 2012 - 0 comments

Boat batteries die and being dead in the water is a terrible feeling. As most boat owners know, this is something that happens from time to time and it's important to be prepared for it. Whether your music was playing to long or your batteries weren't operating on a full charge, there are many different reasons for your batteries to give out.

Calling for a tow or rowing back to the dock isn't much fun, so pick up a portable power pack to avoid this inconvenience. There are a variety of portable options on the market, and I happen to use DieHard Portable Power 750. The battery charger retails for around $80.00, but if you look around the internet  you can usually find it cheaper. It is the perfect size to store in a smaller boat and is powerful enough to jump your batteries back to life. Don't let a power outage ruin your day on the water, go get a power pack and feel good about running your boat for an entire day.

Top Five Tuesday: Week 10

by TheSkiMonster
May 29th 2012 - 0 comments

Since it's our 10th week of Top Five Tuesday, I decided to do something a little different.  This week instead of 5 up and coming tracks that are going to be bangers, I did 5 videos that are live performances or covers of electro or top 40 hits.  

The first video is in a league of it's own, Madeon the soon to be 18 year old (May 30th) from France, started making music at age 11.  Madeon has done remixes for Deadmau5, Martin Solveig, Yelle, and Blur.  The remixes are on point with his glitch house filtered disco sound, but his live set is even crazier. Make sure you watch this video until the very end!



This cover gave me chills listening to it for the first time a month or so ago, so of course it made the list. Serious Voice and an awesome rendition of the hit, Sexy and I Know It.



Deadmau5 new single, The Veldt, is pretty good, pretttyyyy good (Larry David Voice) and by pretty good I mean awesome.  Check this out.



Skrillex made a great song sampling the Doors, Zedd made it a more playable song for the masses, and this cover is just sick!



Avicii + Skrillex + Live Drums... nuff' said.

Five Hour Friday: Week 7

by TheSkiMonster
May 25th 2012 - 0 comments

Memorial Day Weekend is here I can't believe it, this month absolutely flew by.  The official kick off to Summer party weekend is here, make sure you read Eric's MDW Checklist before you head out to anyone's party this weekend, you don't want to be 'that guy'.  We have some great music for you this week and remember you can stream all of these songs on your iPhone, iPad, or Droid!  Be safe this weekend and have fun!

Boston's DJ Influence just posted up his May Mix the third addition to his Monthly series.  Ask him what happend to April, he missed a month.  Fun mix taking you on a journey through his favorite songs for the month of May.



Another Boston favorite, DJ Costa, doesn't put out a mix super often but when he does they're sick.  The first edition of his #thumbsup series is out and ready to go into your iPod.  If you dig house and love anthems give it a download.



Eric was just at Electric Daisy as you probably know from his recap of the show in NY, and this was his favorite set.  Alesso recorded it and put it on his SoundCloud. WIN!



R3hab also posted his EDC set to SoundCloud.  Another WIN!



And capping it off with Sebastian Ingrosso, 1/3 of the Swedish House Mafia, who also posted his EDC set to SoundCloud.  There is a lot of win in this blog!

Memorial Day Weekend Checklist

by TheSkiMonster
May 24th 2012 - 0 comments

Memorial Day Weekend marks the beginning of summer on most people calendars. It is a time to enjoy being outside with family and friends, and talk about the awesomness that the summer season will bring. 

There are few things to remember when preparing for your Memorial Day weekend festivities. Most likely you’re attending someone else's party and will be a responsible for bringing your own items. I have put together a Memorial Day checklist so that you don't arrive to where ever it is your going unprepared.

1. Food

Make sure to bring at least one bag of 99 cent chips. There will be plenty of meats, potato salad, fruit platters and other appetizers to go around. The idea is to eat as much of other people’s food as possible, but it's okay because, hey, you brought chips.

2. A Sufficient Amount of Beverages

The general rule of thumb is one bottle of water per person, and one six-pack for every two people. The party should already have coolers full of Poland Spring and multiple soda options, so there is no reason to bring additional refreshments. Your buddies have most likely brought way to much beer, so the one six-pack of domestic cans is perfect for you and your girlfriend. It's a great way to say your only staying for a bit and that your not really drinking today. Then as the day goes on you act like your buddies convinced you to stay, and now you can drink all of their beers. Winning!

3. A Styrofoam Cooler

The cooler is key in the packing process, and nothing says party more than a Styrofoam cooler. By purchasing these coolers before every major event this summer, you will never need to buy a real cooler of your own. The Styrofoam cooler can barely fit your six-pack and two bottles of water, and will most likely break within the first hour of using it. BUT WHO CARES!?! Someone at the party will feel bad that your cooler broke and will offer up space in their cooler. This amateur will take out some of their items and replacing them with yours. All Good!!!... Oh and don't worry about the ridiculous Styrofoam mess on the floor of the boat or deck, the party's host will clean it up.

4. Chairs

Make sure you don't bring any chairs of your own. Whether it's a cookout or a party on the beach, there will be plenty of chairs scattered about for you to use. There is no need to carry an awkward lawn/beach chair across a semi-short distance and get all sweaty. The other people attending the party already lugged more than enough chairs for everyone. As soon as you see someone get up for more food, grab there seat, sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful day. Move your feet, lose your seat... Everyone knows that.

5. Fireworks

Every party host loves when someone brings fireworks to their outdoor gathering. Before launching them off, you want to wait until it gets just dark enough to see the colorful explosions. Then post up directly in front of the host's house and start firing away! Trust me he/she isn't going to mind, and the entire party will benefit from launching illegal exploding missiles into the sky. It is also a great way to attract more people to the party. It lets everyone around know that a party is going on and they should come join the fun!

6. Bring Additional Friends Who Weren't Invited

This step is critical to a Memorial Day Weekend party's success. If the only people to show up were the ones that were invited, the party would be so LAME. Bringing people that weren't invited mixes it up and adds an awkward dynamic that everyone loves. If you know one of your friends wasn't invited, you should go pick him/her up and bring them anyways. It will be a fun surprise for everyone attending, and you will be the talk of the party. Trust me.

7. An Exotic Pet

Because nothing says summer time party like a giant python.

8. Proper Attire

Having an insufficient amount of clothing or incorrect attire is key in achieving Memorial Day success. If you plan on swimming, no reason to bring board shorts. One of your buddies will have an extra pair for you to use. This way you can change right back into your warm dry clothing, while everyone else is stuck wearing there wet board shorts for the rest of the day. This party might go on into the night therefore a sweatshirt may be necessary. Don’t worry about it! By borrowing a friend or new acquaintance’s sweatshirt, you have really good chance of acquiring it for good. Most of the time people forget that they loaned out there clothing, and just like that you have new hooded sweatshirt.

9. Your Own Music

This party will most likely have a terrible music selection. That's why you bring your iPod and old book of CD's. Nothing gets the party going like 90's mix CD, even Grandma and Uncle Ned can jive with that. Everyone there will be grateful for your music selections and will probably ask you to make them a mix CD. Also, make sure to change each song extremely quickly. No one likes a song that plays for more than 60 seconds, especially when you have so many awesome tracks to play in such a small amount of time.

10. Party Harder Than Everyone Else

Remember this is not your party so I doesn't matter what happens. You should not feel responsible for your actions or how your actions affect other people. All you have to do is show up and have the best time of your life!

If you follow these 10 simple Memorial Day party steps, you should be the rock star of your weekend gathering. Happy Memorial Day everyone and let summer of 2012 begin!

Inspirational Video Playlist

by TheSkiMonster
May 23rd 2012 - 0 comments

Earlier today we did a little joke about Tanner Hall's use of the Caps Lock button on our Facebook page.  As you know Tanner says "INSPIRED" pretty often, so it got me thinking about doing a blog on stuff that inspires me.  These are 5 videos that inspire me to get up and try something new and remind me that hardwork and practice do pay off.  An inspirational video playlist if you will.  As the OutKast Lyrics go; You Need to Get up, Get Out and Get Something.  

"You don't stop playing because you grow old, you grow old because you stop playing" 

Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC): New York City

by TheSkiMonster
May 22nd 2012 - 0 comments

Question: Have you ever seen 20,000 people jumping up and down with their hands in the air? I have and let me tell you, its absolute madness. I keep replaying this past weekend over in my head and I can’t believe I was apart of such and epic event. On Saturday, I attended the Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) in New York City. It was the most over-the-top outdoor music festival I have ever been to, and I loved every minute of it. Over 40,000 people attended the 3-Day festival, which played host to some of the best house/electronic DJs and producers from around the world.

The festival was held at Met Life stadium directly outside of  New York City. The outdoor festivities consisted of four different performance arenas, carnival rides and food and beer tents as far as the eye could see. The different arenas were labeled Kinetic Field, Cosmic Meadow, Circuit Grounds and the Neon Garden. EDC did an excellent job of making each area unique with different stage and lighting configurations. The most impressive part of the massive stage set-ups was the sound. The music was obviously loud, but also crystal clear. Electric Daisy’s sound engineers killed it; no matter where you stood  in the crowd of 20,000+ people, the music sounded perfect.

I spent most of my time near the Kinetic Field stage and was fortunate enough to watch some of the biggest names at Electric Daisy. The venue’s line up included Cazzette, Alesso, Calvin Harris, Sebastian Ingrosso (Swedish House Mafia) and Avicii. Avicii was the day’s headliner, but all of these producers are world class in there own right. In fact, most of the time, these producers are the headliners of their own shows. With that being said, these were the four best opening acts I have ever seen. I pushed my way through the crowd until I was about 20 people off the stage, and was able to witness these producers electrify the crowd over and over again. Out of the four openers, Alesso was my favorite. His set was incredible and he played to the crowd perfectly. When he dropped his remix of “Pressure”, the place erupted in a thunderous roar. Alesso had the crowd energized from the moment he stepped on stage. 

As the sun began to set over Met Life Stadium, you could feel in the anticipation in the air for the headliner to take the stage. It was Avicii’s turn to please the crowd and he did not disappoint. This 22 year-old Swedish producer is turning into a global icon. Chants of his name started breaking out in the crowd before the final opening act had finished his set. When Avicii finally took the stage, the mob exploded with all they had left of their vocal chords. He delivered an epic performance of all his original tracks, along with other top producer’s festival bangers. As the last track cut out, the entire stage went pitch black and the crowd screamed for an encore.  Then about a half mile in the distance a massive firework display burst into the night sky. With a blacked out stage and the masses distracted by a fourth-of-July like display, Avicii seamlessly dropped the latest Jay-Z and Kanye West collaboration N***** in Paris. Not only was it unexpectedly awesome, it was loudest I have ever heard any crowd get in my entire life. It still gives me chills just thinking about it. Avicii’s performance was an unbelievable way to end the show on Saturday night. 

I walked away from Met Life stadium knowing that this day would now be my barometer for all future concerts. Electric Daisy Carnival lived up to its expectations and more. The quality of artists, venue location and overall setup could not have been organized or planned any better.  I tip my hat to EDC and all who participated: this show was truly phenomenal.

In case you missed EDC in NYC, there is one more show scheduled to take place this summer. EDC will be in Las Vegas, NV on June 8-10 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Las Vegas edition is sure to be bigger and crazier than what I experience in New York. So if you want to see the best house/electronic music festival of your life, I suggest you book your ticket to Nevada ASAP.

Top Five Tuesday: Week 9

by TheSkiMonster
May 22nd 2012 - 0 comments

Eric, the other dude that helps keep the show going over here, just got back from EDC or Electric Daisy Festival, in New York at Giants Stadium, and he won't stop raving about it.  I'll see if I can get him to do a blog on the EDM festival for all our music heads.  This has been a great week for music, this week I wish the blog was titled Top Ten Tuesday, five songs just doesn't seem like enough.  Without further adue let's get into the music.

My Top Five Tracks of the week!

Kaskade just released his remix for Katy Perry's New Single 'Wide Awake' on his SoundCloud last night.  Kaskade gets away from his Fire or Ice sound with this Dubstep production.



Felix Cartel put this song out 'Black To White' a few months ago, but it's a Summer banger that you need to have on your boat or beach party playlist.



Justin Bieber... Yea one of his works made it.  Before you click X in the top left you should listen to this remix Dada Life did for Jusin Bieber's single 'Boyfriend'



Wolfgang Gartner put out this teaser for is new original production 'Flexx'.  Wolfgang's last couple productions were some epic progressive house, and this one brings it back with what he's known for electro house!



The last song for this week, is Hardwell's new video for 'Call Me a Spaceman' the vocal version of his popular song... You guessed it 'Spaceman'

Ski Edit of The Week: Team Mahalo

by TheSkiMonster
May 21st 2012 - 0 comments

This brand spankin new edit shot in Mt. Hood Oregon is the fourth and final entrant for the West Coast Session Video Contest.  This is the sixth consecutive year for the session out in Mt. Hood.  For the last Six years it has been the kick off to Spring and Summer skiing inviting young athletes like; Phil Casabon, Joss Christensen, Ian Compton, Sean Jordan, Nicky Keefer, Bene Mayr, Brady Perron, Steve Stepp, Dale Talkington, McRae Williams and Torin Yater Wallace.  

Amateur ski filmmaker Andrew Napier made a sick edit.  The intro which is a few minutes long, reminds me why I love this sport and how fun it is to work in the skiing and snowboarding business.  Skiing is fun, Team Mahalo recognizes that, they have my vote.