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.
Settled and Ready
November 30, 2009We are racing today, but I thought I would fill you in on what I have been doing down here leading up to now. This place is awesome by the way, and if you can travel to Ecuador do it! Basic race facts for Vuelta al Cotopaxi
Cikla bike shop hosted a women’s riding clinic that I taught at the Parque Metropolitano. Local athletes Amanda Purtschert and Diana Marrgraff were there to help with the clinic. Amanda is a well known endurance mountain bike racer and Diana is a world cup downhill specialist. They were able to be the tour guides, translators and also help with spotting and technical skills. The clinic started at 6:30 AM, so I was sure no one was going to show up that early. I was wrong and we had about 15 women of all different levels and even a TV camera crew and reporter showed up. After the riding there was an extension of the women’s clinic at Cikla where I showed some pictures and also spoke about equipment, bike maintenance, training and nutrition. There are a ton of cyclists here in Ecuador and the women’s group is growing. It’s great to be helping get more women out on bikes. I will also be doing another women’s riding clinic in the town of Cuenca after the race.
Greg and I took the tram up Pinchincha volcano yesterday to about 4000 meters and hiked around in the clouds. The tram normally gives you great views of Quito, but we were essentially hiking in the clouds. I could definitely feel more difficulty breathing, but it was a great hike. Hopefully getting up high will accelerate the acclimatization process. The race is still going to hurt, but we are trying to do what we can to be a little better prepared for the elevation than last year.
I will be posting some more photos to myFlickr
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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




