Traverse City Shootout: June 2026

1947 – Three Leelanau County men, Stanley Ball, Hans Teichner, and Art Huey, opened the Sugar Loaf Winter Sports Club. It was closed in 1950 and remained so until 1962, when Jim and Pat Ganter reopened it as Sugar Loaf Resort, eventually adding a hotel, indoor tennis, a golf course, now known as Sugarloaf, the Old Course, a 3,500-foot paved airstrip, 72 townhouses which ultimately were sold to private owners, and a wastewater treatment plant. Expansion of the slopes and addition of five chairlifts made it a modern ski area.

In 1981, High interest rates on loans and poor winter weather prompted the default on a loan and Empire Bank took over Sugar Loaf. Also, in 1981, an investment group acquired SugarLoaf for $ 7.5 million. The sale included the lodge and hotel, one golf course, the airstrip, wastewater treatment plant and 1,600 acres.

In 1997, Empire Bank reacquired the resort, but the investment group retained the golf course and the wastewater treatment facility. Also in 1997, the resort was purchased by Remo Polselli, who could not obtain its liquor license.

In 2000 the Sugar Loaf Resort closed.

#7 – June 13th – The Patrick

Saturday, June 13

Start: 0730

Bee: 0715

Starting from: West End Beach Parking Lot

Distance: 99km

Elevation: 980m

INTERMEDIATES & COURSE FILE

KOMs: Fritz, Hlavka, Philosophy

Sprints: Sullivan, Little Traverse

The Patrick course file

PATRICK HISTORY

In 2017, Patrick rode back to back 100 mile days in Northern Michigan as a fundraiser for El Grupo Norte (watch him finish up his second day). Patrick’s Heavy Ride was born. Over 7 years, Patrick helped raised a bunch of money for kids on bikes.

Thank you, Patrick!