Font ResizeCanyon Sports, a sporting-goods retailer with four Wasatch Front locations, is being sued by Powder Mountain Ski Resort for allegedly failing to pay for lift-ticket vouchers worth $138,927 last season.
The accusation, lodged in 3rd District Court, was not disputed by Canyon Sports co-owner Todd Taylor, who vowed to repay the resort above Ogden Valley.
"Our intention is certainly to pay what we owe," he said, contending a mutual friend is trying to mend differences between the retailer and Powder Mountain's new management team. "We owe them the money, and we're going to pay them."
The vouchers, obtained by Canyon Sports in a contract agreement signed Nov. 17, 2008, could be purchased at a discount price at the company's retail sites and redeemed at Powder Mountain.
Taylor said he and his brother, Cory, inherited considerable financial debts from some of Canyon Sports' prior owners and also lost revenue this summer because its store in Cottonwood Heights was being remodeled.
"We are working on outside investment to pay down this debt and other outstanding payables as soon as possible," he said. "But this is a tough time to get financing and terms in place."
The impending start of the ski-rental season should generate funding that will go toward the debt, Taylor said, adding that "our payment woes are not due to the lack of revenues. Last season showed me how recession-proof our business is and how attractive Utah skiing
"I'm not ashamed of the situation we're in. We'll work through it," he added, citing the unveiling of a new Web site as an aid to boosting company revenues.
Canyon Sports has retail shops in Cottonwood Heights, Sandy, downtown Salt Lake City and Ogden. Its corporate offices are in Salt Lake City.
