couple at Big Kicker

Kick off the Beginning of the Season with Us

The 21/22 ski and ride season is quickly approaching, and we’re kicking it off with a Courtyard party! The Big Kicker is back for its eleventh year and we’re excited to be hosting it right here at Sugarbush.

Eric Friedman, then the Marketing Director of Mad River Glen, was inspired to create the Big Kicker after attending a similar event out at Crested Butte over a decade ago. The original idea of the event was to celebrate the beginning of winter with a party not only for the mountain, but for the community as well. Mad River Glen and Sugarbush have been teaming up to host the Big Kicker since the beginning in an effort to bring together the Mad River Valley skiing and riding community as a whole. Originally it was hosted at the Big Picture, and has moved around to Lareau Farm and Mt. Ellen in years past. The Big Kicker remains one of our favorite events as it has always been a great way to include various Valley businesses and organizations.

Big Kicker at Lareau Farm in 2017
Big Kicker at Mt. Ellen in 2019

This year, the Big Kicker will be held in the Lincoln Peak Courtyard on Saturday, November 20th, from 6PM until 9PM. Come out and enjoy music from DJ Chris Logan, beer samples from our friends at Lawson’s Finest Liquids, and pizza. Our Parks Crew will also be putting together an exciting lineup of rails and features on the pitch between the Gate House lift and Gate House Lodge, providing easy viewing access. Anyone is welcome to test out their skills in the mini-park. Community Partners for this event include the High Fives Foundation, Vermont Mountain Bike Association, Green Mountain Club, Mad River Valley Backcountry Coalition, Flyin Ryan Foundation, Mad River Riders, and Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports. Come on out and help us celebrate the beginning of ski season. We hope to see you there!