Rebecca Rusch

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    S-Works MTB Helmet

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

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    MTB Shoes

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    S-Works Epic

    The Only Full Suspension 29er World Champion.

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    Fate

    Trail Capable. Race Ready.

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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.

Specialized Right to Play Ride to Vegas

September 12, 2011

I spent the afternoon at the Specialized offices in SLC getting a grand tour, getting a brand new Amira sized up for the trip and meeting all of the other riders I'll be spending the next 6 days with in the saddle.

We are a group of media, dealers, Specialized staff and friends riding from SLC to Interbike Las Vegas.  We are riding in recognition of Specialized newly formed relationship with Right to Play that provides sport and play opportunities and equipment to kids all over the world.  This initiative meshes perfectly with the Specialized First Gear program aimed at getting more kids on bikes.  We kicked off the afternoon by giving out 15 brand new bikes to kids and teaching them how to ride.  Picabo Street is an athlete ambassador for Right to Play and was also on hand to meet the kids and inspire them.  I was pretty inspired too by meeting Picabo and by seeing all the huge smiles on the kids' faces as they ripped around on their new bikes.
It's such a bonus to be involved with a sponsor who does so much more than just provide a paycheck.

Our ride is 6 days from SLC to Vegas.  Tomorrow, Day 1 we will be covering 113 miles from SLC to Nephi.  It has been a while since I've put in long miles on my road bike, so this will be a change and a great training week.  It'll make standing indoors in Vegas for 3 days way more bearable.
Thanks to Specialized for the invitation.  Thanks also to Red Bull, Beyond Coastal, Skins, and Hammer Nutrition for providing supplies to keep us all going for 6 days in a row.

Stats for Rebecca Rusch are coming soon.
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