Rebecca Rusch
Adventure racing calls for a deep well of skills: paddling, rock climbing, biking, navigating, skiing, and more. Since turning pro in 2001, Rebecca Rusch has proven to the world she has what it takes to execute any of the above even after going beyond her limits in far flung places like Kyrgyzstan and Tibet. After winning adventure races became routine, she added 24 Hour Solo Mountain Bike racing to her résumé and proceeded to dominate the sport in 2006, 2007, and is currently two time World Champion.
Rusch moved to California from the stark plains of Illinois after college to pursue rock climbing. She soon racked up ascents of big walls from Yosemite to Zion. Paddling was next as she rose through local competitive ranks to race with the world-famous Offshore Canoe Club’s women’s outrigger team in the brutal Molokai crossing. Adventure Racing was the next challenge. The first race she entered was a qualifier for the Australian Eco-challenge. “We ended up winning the race. The rest is history!”
So what do you do if you win the first major race you’ve ever entered? Quit your job, move into your Ford Bronco, and set your sights on becoming the best. After several years on the road, she landed in Ketchum, Idaho which is currently her home base. In the nine years since that first adventure race, Rusch became one of the strongest female captains in the sport and garnered an incredibly deep résumé.
In 2006, Rebecca successfully turned her talents toward endurance solo mountain bike races while continuing to compete in the toughest adventure races. In 2006, she won the Solo Mountain Biking Nationals, and took second in Worlds. In 2007, she became the 24 Hour Solo Mountain Biking World Champion. In 2008, Rebecca remained in the top seat by once again dominating the World Championships.
I just walked in the door
September 1, 2009I just walked in the door and settled from our race weekend at Grand Targhee, which is right by the Driggs/Jackson Hole area. We had no cell phone coverage, no computers, just some friends and some tents. It was great! It was almost like being in another place or time. We went to this semi-local 24 hour race at last minutes notice because a bunch of friends were going from Ketchum, the prize money at the race was really good, and the trails there are awesome.
It was the lat minute pack job for Greg and I, and we didn't even know if we were racing solo or as a duo team until about 30 minutes before the start. There is a great cash return if you win one of the categories there, however 2nd place gets nada. Greg and I were weighing the odds based on how many entered each category. We probably could have raced duo and won, but then we had to split the prize money. So we rolled the dice, and entered solo, and believe it or not, we both won the race!
Greg was first solo overall, even on a singlespeed against all the geared men! I raced open women against a well known local endurance guru. We had five solo athletes from Ketchum sharing one pit area, so there was a lot going on in our camp to say the least. We only had one pit crew guy, Tenacious Todd, who was crewing for all of us. It was not the usual scene I was used to for a 24hr race. I took care of my bike, mixed my own bottles, and fiddled with my lights for the whole night. It was hectic, but it was a good hard training day/night. I brought both my Era and my 29er hardtail to do a direct comparison. I love them both but for different reasons. I am definitely faster on the technical descents on the Era's full suspension, but the 29er climbs like a bat out of hell and smooths out all the rollers and bumps. Both bikes weigh about 21lbs and have the new SRAM XX 2x10 drivetrains that I love! It simplifies shifting and makes dropping a chain a non-issue.
We swept the field in Targhee with Ketchum riders. I won the women's division and was second overall. Greg won men's open on a singlespeed, Chris and Mike H were 2nd and 3rd, and Mike S was the first single speed male. It was a impressive showing!
Cheers
Reba
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The Missoula screening....
March 15, 2010 -
March Madness
March 11, 2010 -
Tour de la Patagonia
February 23, 2010 -
I finally returned....
February 18, 2010 -
South America Winter Training Camp
February 12, 2010 -
FINAL REPORT: TRANS ANDES
February 4, 2010 -
LAS DIOSAS
January 22, 2010 -
WHIRLWIND WEEKEND
January 21, 2010 -
Back Country Here i Come
January 15, 2010 -
Mountain Town Movie tour.
January 13, 2010 -
I am a busy lady right now!
January 13, 2010 -
RACE ACROSS THE SKY TOUR
January 8, 2010 -
As I sit here ...
December 22, 2009 -
It's been a great week here in Washington D.C
December 14, 2009 -
currently in Washington D.C
December 11, 2009 -
finally feeling a bit settled
December 8, 2009 -
Whew!
December 2, 2009 -
Settled and Ready
November 30, 2009 -
Grabbing some internet here at the hotel
November 23, 2009 -
Monday means time to catch up....
November 16, 2009 -
Morning!
November 10, 2009 -
short blog....
November 4, 2009 -
Monday’s are great for catching up.
October 27, 2009 -
New York City, the Big Apple.....
October 20, 2009 -
24 Hours of Moab
October 19, 2009 -
Whew! We finally arrived in Mammoth
September 21, 2009 -
Throttle and Pedals....
September 11, 2009 -
I just walked in the door
September 1, 2009 -
After a great birthday week.....
August 31, 2009 -
Leadville Trail 100 – Race Across the Sky
August 19, 2009 -
I Won a DH Event! No Really, I Did!
August 6, 2009 -
Three Peat...
July 29, 2009 -
I just stepped off the plane and I am back in good ol’ Ketchum
July 22, 2009 -
Snowbird,UT
July 14, 2009 -
Thin Air and Fast Times in Breckenridge
July 7, 2009 -
Vernal, UT riding and USA Cycling Marathon Nationals
July 6, 2009 -
Reba first ride on a 29er HT
June 29, 2009 -
Countdown Begins.....
June 25, 2009 -
Spokane I Can
May 28, 2009 -
Memorial Day Weekend, Road Trip!
May 23, 2009 -
Fire, Fire, Everywhere
May 19, 2009 -
Dirt Sweat and Gears. Fayetteville, TN
May 11, 2009 -
Packing
May 4, 2009 -
Spring in Ketchum
April 27, 2009 -
Specialized Headquarters and Sea Otter Classic
April 20, 2009 -
Next Tuesday night
April 15, 2009 -
All In a Week’s Work
April 2, 2009 -
Absa Cape Epic Stage 6
March 27, 2009 -
Absa Cape Epic, Stage 5
March 26, 2009 -
Absa Cape Epic, Stage #4
March 25, 2009 -
Cape Epic Stage 3
March 24, 2009 -
Cape Epic Stage 1 and Stage 2
March 23, 2009 -
Cape Epic Pre-Race/Prologue
March 21, 2009 -
USA Cycling Ultra Endurance series race #2
March 10, 2009




