Rebecca Rusch

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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.

Last week

November 30, 2011

Last week as Sun Valley locals were chomping at the bit for the lifts to open, and doing the snow dances, I was scheming a way to delay the start of winter and go ride my bike.

I did the semi annual gear change over, hauling the ski gear from the storage unit and tucking most of the bikes away for the winter. I waxed all the nordic and backcountry skis and lined up the ski boots and gear. I even checked the grooming and backcountry reports. But still, I couldn't actually get out the door for a ski. I've been wandering around town hunkered into a down jacket, hat and scarf, wondering if I'd ever warm up. I love living in Idaho and do love skiing, but the transition is always a little harder for me than the true ski bums who dream of the fluffy white stuff all summer long and wish for overcast skies and freezing temps. I'm definitely more of a summer lover and think about the characteristics of the dirt under my tires the way the skiers think of all the different types of snow under their skis. But, what makes the riding here so special might be that we can't have it 365 days a year. Absence makes the heart grow stronger, right? So, a little late season riding to keep me stoked and now I'm back in Idaho officially ready for winter. Don't get me wrong, I still have a few bikes at the ready for some other winter escapes, but I'm also ready to embrace skiing.

Thanksgiving in Moab was a great escape. Weather was in the 50s and low 60s which feels pretty nice compared to 20s and 30s. The drive down to Moab is always a little longer than I want it to be and I guess driving the evening before Thanksgiving is not the best time to push the speedometer a little. The section between Price and Green River is so boring and desolate and you just want to be in Moab at that point. We did get pulled over going less than 10mph over the speed limit. Luckily the cooler was closed and the officer was feeling generous. Our Thanksgiving started early and we pulled out with a sigh of relief and started giving thanks.

I knew the trip was meant to be when we walked into the rental condo. The walls were plastered with classic vintage Leadville 100 posters and race numbers. I have no idea who the owner is, but I'm for sure going to find out and send a poster of my own to add to the collection.

Moab is always full of climbing and now riding memories for me. I spent a fair bit of time there in another life, when I was living as a dirtbag climber. The sandstone still calls to me and I find myself looking up longingly at the cliffs when I'm there. Most of my trips there now are riding trips, which are just as fun, but different. I still have the urge to go up and stand on top of the towers. We rode some new classics that Greg and I had not seen before. The Moab cycling community has been really active lately developing purpose built trails for mountain bikes. The classics that are 4wd jeep routes are still fun, but the new brand of single track riding there opens even more doors and is a whole different experience.

Greg and I rode Magnificent 7 and Pipe Dream. Yes, they are as good as everyone says. The trip was a blast. I ran into a ton of local Moab friends and Colorado friends, but as always, the trip was a little to short and left me wanting more. Like I said, absence makes the heart grow stronger. Time to slide around on the snow until the next bike trip.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope you found more things than you can list to be thankful for. I know I did.

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