Waitsfield, VT – They’re situated side-by-side in Vermont’s Mad River Valley, and on Saturday Sugarbush and Mad River Glen will join forces to kick off the 2012-13 ski and snowboard season with an event at the Big Picture Theater and Café in Waitsfield featuring giveaways, a film premiere, photography exhibits, presentations, live music and fun for the whole family.

“The Mad River Valley is a special place, not only because of the incredible skiing and riding, but also because of the winter community the Valley attracts,” said Sugarbush President Win Smith. “The Big Kicker is a way for Sugarbush and Mad River Glen to invite the community to come together and celebrate what we hope to be an incredible winter season.”

The Big Kicker gets underway at 5 p.m. with a Rail Jam exposition by the Mad River Glen and Sugarbush freestyle teams. A photography exhibit and slide show begin at 5:30. Meathead Films is premiering their new movie No Matter What at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Presentations by the High Fives Foundation and the Flyin’ Ryan Hawks Foundation will be made at 7 p.m. Live music from the Big Basin Band begins at 9 p.m. Long Trail Brewery is sponsoring a beer garden and Triple Eight Vodka of Nantucket will provide an ice luge for cocktails.

Sugarbush and Mad River Glen representatives will be on-hand to raffle off a free season pass to each resort. Proceeds from the sale of raffle tickets will benefit the High Fives Foundation. The raffle will take place at 9 p.m. and winners must be present to win.