Rebecca Rusch

Recent Rebecca Rusch Videos:
Rebecca Rusch's Gear:
  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=64178

    S-Works MTB Helmet

    The lightest certified helmet in the world, worn by 2008 UCI World XC Champion Christoph Sauser...

    Learn More at Specialized.com

  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/ftr/gloves

    Specialized Gloves

    Protection, Comfort, Control.

    Learn More at Specialized.com

  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/ftr/shoes/mtb-shoes

    MTB Shoes

    Legendary Trail Toughness

    Learn More at Specialized.com

  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqSCLander.jsp?scid=1008

    Tires

    The product that started it all.....

    Learn More at Specialized.com

  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/epicfsr

    S-Works Epic

    The Only Full Suspension 29er World Champion.

    Learn More at Specialized.com

  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bikes/mountain/fate

    Fate

    Trail Capable. Race Ready.

    Learn More at Specialized.com

S-Works MTB Helmet

Rebecca Rusch wasn’t thinking about world championships when she joined the Downers Grove North High School cross-country team. “I just wanted the free track suit,” recalls Rusch, who, 28 years later, finds herself among the ranks of the world’s elite endurance athletes. In July of 2009, Rusch won her third straight mountain biking 24-hour Solo World Championship.

Since donning those gray cotton sweats and Lycra shorts, Rusch has outfitted herself in the kit of numerous other disciplines: racking up ascents of big walls from Yosemite to Zion, paddling on the world-famous Offshore Canoe Club’s women’s outrigger team in the brutal Molokai crossing and winning adventure races around the world.

When not training in one of the five mountain ranges surrounding her hometown of Ketchum, Idaho, the 41-year-old known as the “Queen of Pain” can be found chasing adrenaline from Tibet to New Zealand to Kyrgyzstan, constantly adding titles to her impressive and extensive resume.

In addition to those three 24-hour solo mountain bike World Champion rainbow jerseys, Rusch is a three-time national champion in 24-hour team mountain biking. She’s Idaho’s Short Track state championship (twice), and its Cyclocross state title. An accomplished Nordic skier, she’s won the Masters Cross Country Skiing World Championship, in addition to taking the top prize at Raid Gauloises Adventure Racing World Championships. And although that’s just cross-section of her palmares, it’s easy to see why Rusch has been profiled by Sports Illustrated, Outside Magazine and Adventure Sport Magazine.

Talking about age draws a laugh as she gestures at her surroundings. "People around here are all 10 years younger than they actually are. And I don’t mean they just look it; they are actually 10 years younger," she said. "Everyone’s out there constantly doing stuff, from biking to skiing to hiking. There’s a collective mentality that if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it."

This mentality, along with what she calls "perfect terrain for training," provides a home base for the typically itinerant Rusch. She is part of the community; for more than two years she has been a stalwart volunteer emergency medical technician and firefighter for the Ketchum Fire Department, and a homeowner. On breaks from her race schedule, she works on her condominium, though the domestic idea continues to bemuse her; the last home she owned was a 1975 Ford Bronco.

Well, race day's almost here.

September 9, 2010

I"m taking photos, but you won't get to see any till I get home and get a new computer. The best part about living in a small town is that I was able to have Greg call We Know Macs where I got my last Mac and have them order a new identical one and get it all set up for me so it's ready when I get home.

I've spent the last couple of days riding the course and dealing with the theft as best I can from over here. The course is crazy. It's 5.5 km and takes about 25 min/lap. My age group 35-44 will be doing three laps. The younger women's age group will do four. Perhaps they thought the old women could not handle being out that long. Nearly 3 km of the course are on fire road or pavement. The remaining 2.5 is single track, but crazy steep single track like only South America can do it. There is seriously one uphill climb that is 29%. The dirt part of the course is either crouching tiger with your chin on your handle bars trying to climb, or your rear is off the saddle touching the back tire and you are just hoping to slide into the right muddy rut that might shoot you out the bottom of the slide. It's quite different than what I'm used to and really good practice for my technical skills. I finally made it upright down all of the desents today. I still cannot ride all of the climbs, but I can run. IF there's even a whisper of moisture, the course becomes absolutely unrideable with the slick mud and roots. It'll be more of a cyclocross style course if that happens. It was cear all day today and the course is drying nicely. The forecast is good, so I'm going to bed in hopes of a dry morning. I start at 8:30 AM and it'll all be over before 10. Then, I'll walk over to the beach and take a swim. I plan on an hour warm up and trying to be ready to punch it from the gun. Stay tuned.

Stats for Rebecca Rusch are coming soon.
All content © copyright 2013 Specialized Bicycle Components. All Rights reserved.