British Columbia-based Steelhead Programs Inc. (SSI) has responded to a lawsuit filed by Ski Bluewood, Washington over a delayed raise mission. As I detailed final month, the 2 events initially agreed to deliver a used removable quad to Bluewood in June 2024. The 1993 Doppelmayr raise would substitute a base-to-summit triple chair and dramatically scale back trip time. SSI would act as a dealer between Professional-Alpin Ropeway Providers of Austria and Bluewood, bringing the raise from Sölden to Washington at important saving versus a brand new raise. SCJ Alliance would engineer the raise and Bluewood would full a lot of the set up work itself. Bluewood introduced in late June 2024 the raise was anticipated to open for the 2025-26 season.
The deal soured this summer time when disagreements arose over delivery prices, timelines, the variety of delivery containers wanted, change charges and extra. In its declare filed within the Supreme Courtroom of British Columbia, Bluewood alleged breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment by SSI. In its Response to Civil Declare, SSI’s legal professional denies lots of Bluewood’s claims, together with that delivery prices and change charges had been mounted upon contract signing. SSI alleges solely after Bluewood stopped making funds did it cease delivery containers throughout the Atlantic. “Pursuant to [the agreement], all accountability and threat with respect to the tools, together with transportation, rests with the Purchaser,” the submitting notes. “This accountability contains any adjustments to delivery prices or change charges, that are issues exterior the management of the Defendants.” SSI argues three excellent invoices whole $587,548.
SSI additionally alleges its principal, Zrinko Amerl, advised Bluewood in 2024 that fall 2025 completion was an optimistic timeline. The criticism alleges Bluewood failed to offer correct survey information in a well timed method. Steelhead Programs says SCJ Alliance’s engineer requested a sixteenth tower, which SSI agreed to offer at beneath market value. Lastly, SSI alleges “ProAlpin insisted that there be a storage system put in place for upkeep and storage of chairs, nonetheless [Bluewood] refused to observe this suggestion.”
So far 23 containers have been delivered to Bluewood containing chairs, terminal components and towers. 4 containers’ price of kit stays in Austria. Alarmingly, Professional-Alpin indicated to SSI that each one remaining components, together with bullwheels and the haul rope, not picked up by September eighth, 2025 can be scrapped. “As of at the moment’s date, SSI is unaware if any motion has been taken with respect to this,” the submitting notes.
Shortly after submitting the response, SSI countersued Bluewood’s house owners, alleging the lawsuit, related press launch and media protection have broken its fame. The submitting particularly mentions Raise Weblog’s protection and reader feedback impacting SSI’s capacity to promote lifts throughout the broader mountain resort business. “On account of the defamatory statements made by [Bluewood], SSI has suffered and continues to undergo losses to its enterprise,” the swimsuit says, alleging statements made by Bluewood will trigger an estimated lack of roughly $10 to $15 million in income. The corporate seeks fee of excellent invoices plus curiosity, damages and different prices.
Bluewood officers declined to remark past their preliminary press launch, citing pending litigation. The ski space has been busy re-hanging chairs on the Skyline Categorical, the 1978 Borvig as soon as set to get replaced.
