SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (April 2, 2020) — Trust Performance, an innovative suspension fork company based in Salt Lake City, Utah, today announced that they are suspending operations due to funding and supply chain obstacles brought about by the coronavirus crisis. They made the announcement in a facebook post. Existing customers can have their forks serviced by Suspension Syndicate, a Salt Lake City based shock service company.
The company was founded in 2015 by long time industry members Dave Weagle, Jason Schiers and Hap Seliga. The company produced two trailing multi-link suspension forks, The Message with 130 mm of travel, and the Shout with 178 mm of travel. Their forks were unlike any other on the market, with a trailing contour design that is touted to maintain geometry when under compression.
Regarding the fork design Trust states, “Furthermore, the trailing multi-link design means that the axle path isn’t forced to travel in line with the steering axis. Instead, it counteracts the natural steering angle change with a corresponding adjustment in offset. The result: The Message maintains caster through the range of travel, giving the rider predictable handling in a wider variety of trail conditions. The contour wheel path of the Message also lessens the feel of head angle, axle-to-crown height, and fixed offset. As a result, it is capable of performing on a wide range of telescopic axle-to-crown heights.”
Their facebook message regarding the suspension of operations follows:
We started Trust Performance in 2015 with a vision of building products that bring spirited outdoor athletes more fun and camaraderie. Our core focus from the outset was on reimagining and re-defining suspension technology; at first in mountain bikes with other industries thereafter. As you might imagine, our plans hinged on raising multiple rounds of capital to fuel our ambitions for incredible design, engineering, manufacturing and customer/dealer support.
2019 was a breakthrough year for Trust. We surpassed 1,000 units sold, we saw steep growth in dealer and distributor sales, and we saw four of our best-ever sales months at the end of the year. We had great momentum based on key demand metrics, brand awareness, and community enthusiasm.
But 2020 brought a number of unexpected factors, starting with the shut-down of key parts of our Asian supply chain following Chinese New Year due to coronavirus. In February, demand slowed considerably as macro fears about the economy started to rise. Then, finally, severe negativity in the investment markets shut down our ability to gain access to capital. This was at a point where we needed increased liquidity to carry us through a critical moment in our business. It all added up to a perfect storm that slammed right into us.
As a result of the overwhelming effects of the coronavirus and evaporated capital markets, it’s with incredible disappointment and a heavy heart that, effective immediately, Trust Performance is taking a pause and suspending operations until we address our capital needs. We are utterly and completely gutted. We have given every waking hour over the past few months to find a path forward, but to no avail. Trust Performance, like the rest of the world, will be a different company when life is back to normal.
For those who own a Trust fork and need service going forward, please contact Suspension Syndicate in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are trained and certified as a Trust Performance authorized service center.
We’re grateful for the community of people who encouraged and supported our unique design and innovative technology. In stepping away, we wish everyone health and safety. These trying times are a great reminder to make the most of the moment with those you enjoy most.
Sincerely,
The Trust Performance Team
