| Undoubtedly the newest rising star in the field of | | | | same year, he filed the patents for his Trikke |
| human powered vehicles, the Trikke scooter | | | | cambering system, getting two of them accepted |
| never fails to amaze anyone who watches its | | | | in 2001. |
| riders zoom gracefully along. | | | | Year 2000 proved to be a fruitful year for Beleski |
| Pedestrians will even stop the Trikke riders in | | | | with a chance meeting of entrepreneur |
| order to satisfy their curiosity. "What makes that | | | | trend-setter John Simpson. Simpson became |
| thing run?" is the most frequent question. | | | | interested in the Trikke scooters when he saw |
| And as soon as someone steps onto the Trikke | | | | Beleski riding his earlier version of the Trikke |
| and experiences its innovative three-point | | | | scooter as he was exiting his favorite sushi bar in |
| cambering vehicle ("3CV") technology for him | | | | Santa Monica. Simpson admitted that at first, he |
| herself, he is usually unable to stop commenting | | | | thought the Trikke looked ungainly and ridiculous |
| on the Trikke's many benefits. "A revolutionary | | | | but when he saw it move easily without any |
| sports, fun and fitness machine..." "...absolutely | | | | propellers, he chased down Beleski and his Trikke |
| addicting..." "...closest thing to skiing on pavement" | | | | scooter. He became a great supporter of the |
| and "...compact maintenance-free machine that fits | | | | Trikke after experiencing for himself the fun and |
| into every aspect of one's lifestyle" are among | | | | fitness aspects. As a true entrepreneur, Simpson |
| the common compliments bandied about as | | | | saw the Trikke's potential and became an |
| people applaud the innovation and fun of the | | | | investor in Trikke Tech that same year. Beleski |
| Trikke scooters. But did you know that the | | | | later asked him to become Trikke Tech's |
| Trikke was developed because of one man's | | | | president in 2002. And they successfully launched |
| desire to experience the fun of 'carving' on a | | | | the scooter to the American public soon after. |
| more stable and safer device? This is how the | | | | Since its unveiling, the Trikke has rapidly gained |
| Trikke scooter painstakingly evolved into the fun | | | | popularity, gaining attention from the international |
| and fitness machine it is now. | | | | media after it bagged Time Magazine's "Coolest |
| During the late 1980's, Brazilian inventor Gildo | | | | New Inventions of 2002" title. |
| Beleski tried to learn skateboarding or roller | | | | Hollywood celebrity's acceptance and support |
| skating, but to his frustration, he kept falling and | | | | further bolstered its popularity as Jennifer Aniston, |
| had a hard time keeping his balance. | | | | Brad Pitt, Jim Belushi, Jim Carey, and Ben Affleck |
| As an engineering graduate from the Brazilian | | | | were seen riding their Trikke scooters as part of |
| Institute of Technology, Beleski remained | | | | their exercise regimen, as an inter-studio vehicle, |
| undaunted and instead used his technical | | | | and on screen. |
| background in designing and manufacturing | | | | From less than $1 million in annual sales in 2002, |
| suspension parts and power trains for compact | | | | Trikke's popularity was reflected by its booming |
| vehicles to create a three-wheeled vehicle for | | | | sales of $10 million in 2003, and about $50 million in |
| riding downhill. | | | | 2004. With a plethora of extremely talented |
| In 1988, he finished his first Trikke prototype that | | | | executives recruited by John Simpson, Trikke |
| combines the stability of three wheels and brakes | | | | Tech aims to establish a brand with numerous |
| with a contemporary frame designed to enhance | | | | innovations that will become a mainstay among |
| the Trikke rider's ability to lean or camber. He | | | | the recreational transport devices for many years |
| called it Trikke (pronounced 'trik), similar to a bike, | | | | to come. They also aim to establish the Trikke |
| only with three wheels. When he tested the | | | | scooter as a serious platform for competition. |
| Trikke, he discovered that it continued to move | | | | Presently, the Trikke scooter's market has |
| forward on flat ground beyond the bottom of the | | | | already expanded to include Canada, Korea, |
| hill as long as he kept turning and leaning. | | | | Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, as |
| In 1990, Gildo marketed his first version of the | | | | well as nearly every major country in Europe. |
| Trikke scooter. However, much to his | | | | Trikke Tech continues to refine its product's |
| disappointment, the Trikke failed to find favor | | | | performance to meet the requirements of all age |
| among his countrymen and he was forced to give | | | | groups from all walks of life as seen by the |
| up on the initial Trikke's design after garnering only | | | | version 2 introduced in the fall of 2003 and the |
| moderate sales in 1992. | | | | appearance of more products in the ensuing |
| When he went to the U.S. in the late 1990's on a | | | | years. The Trikke is now rapidly gaining fame and |
| business trip, he realized that the place was ripe | | | | acceptance, and you'd be well-advised to check it |
| for the introduction of a new cambering device | | | | out for yourself as one of the more innovative |
| while watching many people trail the Miami beach | | | | and exciting human powered vehicles that |
| paths with their human powered vehicles (HPV). | | | | maintains an advantage in safety, stability and |
| So he resumed work on his design and opened | | | | ease of use over other HPVs like skateboards, |
| Trikke Tech in Buellton, California in 2000. That | | | | rollerblades and the like. |