Rebecca Rusch

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  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProductList.jsp?sid=2012EquipHelmetMTB&pscid=1009&scid=1136

    S-Works MTB Helmet

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

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  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqSelectSection.jsp?scid=1128&pscid=1009

    Specialized Gloves

    Made to keep your grip sweat-free and your bike control precise ...

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  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCEqProductList.jsp?sid=2012EquipShoesMTB&pscid=1009&scid=1137

    MTB Shoes

    Get the maximum potential out of your power transfer.....

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

    Tires

    The product that started it all.....

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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.

Snowbird,UT

July 14, 2009

Bluebird Day in Snowbird,UT

•July 10, 2009

Hello!

I am down in Snowbird,UT for a Specialized Global Dealer event. All of their top dealers in the world are here to talk, ride, schmooze, and be seen on the new 2010 product. I am spending most of my time doing demo rides on the mountain side of things, talking about my racing, and the equipment. Sun Valley is crazy right now with the Allen & Company crowd, and it’s a nice change of pace to get out of town and ride some place new. I highly recommend for everyone to ride in Northern Utah, Moab isn’t the only place with world class riding in this state!

Going into World’s I have begun to rest up a bit, and ride a bit easier as most of my intensity work has been completed. Sleeping up here at Snowbird is a nice bonus since we are at 9,000 feet! It’s like my own personal altitude tent. Here’s a little picture of the set up they have going on here. Talk to you soon.

Cheers

Reba

Snowbird: Part Deux

•July 13, 2009

Hello!

I’m still in Snowbird for another few days of high altitude fun at the Specialized Dealer event. The first few days were all the top international dealers. I rode with shop owners from Brazil, Australia, Bermuda, Bosnia, Puerto Rico, Japan, etc. It was a blast to meet so many people from around the world who get so excited about riding bikes. I am spending most of my time at the mountain bike demo, drooling over the 2010 bikes and taking laps on the chairlift with dealers, Specialized designers and engineers and distributors. Despite many language barriers, everyone has the universal grin on their face after bombing downhill on a sweet new bike! Tomorrow all the US Dealers filter in and the whole thing starts over again.

Yesterday, I did some testing on the new Enduro and the new Stumpjumper. Oh man! They are both sweet bikes and I really feel the appeal of the bigger suspension bikes. I’ll never trade in my Era for pure XC and endurance racing, but I am having a blast taking the bigger bikes over things that I could not ride on my Era. I am also getting a first look at new gloves, tires, helmets, handle bars and talking with the designers is fascinating. I learn just as much here as the dealers do. The SRAM folks are also here and have given me the lowdown on the new XX components. I’ve been talking gears, brakes, weights and performance with them and learning about all the new upgrades that were developed. It has been full immersion in everything to do with bikes and a really fun week at the office!

Leading up to World’s, after this trip I am going to be sitting pretty still getting all the logistics lined out for the trip. Who knew organizing was so hard! A few massages, some hot tubing, and stretching are definitely in order. With the tapered training schedule I am going to be writing a few more blogs than usual this week so stay posted.

Cheers

Reba

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