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.
LAS DIOSAS
January 22, 2010Just got up from 10 hours of sleeping in a bed! I arrived yesterday at 7am and was pretty much going all day building my bike, getting checked in, going to the 10x offices (the Specialized distributor who is hosting me). I also did a great training ride (and FIRST time on the bike this year) of 45 km through the city with Carlos, an ex-racer and employee for 10x. We rode out to one of the new Specialized dealers for a poster signing and group ride. Luckily Carlos knew his was through the city and is an expert weaving in and out of traffic and finding all the good roads to ride on. Today is a bit more training to wake up the legs from the winter, another shop visit and group ride in Buenos Aires and then packing up for the flight down to Bariloche to get ready for the race.
The Trans Andes is first, a 6 day stage race with an insane amount of climbing. I am racing with Jenny Smith (Xterra specialist and mtb racer). She rides for another large bike company that shall remain nameless, so we have chosen the neutral team name of Las Diosas (the goddesses). I am not one to regularly call myself a goddess, but this is what all the locals were calling my mostly female Eco Challenge team in 1999 when we raced to a historic 4th place finish amongst mostly male teams. This is the first time I will be returning to the Lakes district of Patagonia since that Eco Challenge. It is one of my all time favorite places in the world, so I wanted to honor the name I was given so many years ago by the locals. Also, Jenny and I agree that no matter what bike we’re riding, our collective goal is to encourage and inspire women in all parts of the world to ride, race and explore on a bicycle! So that’s how Las Diosas came about!
The 2nd race is a local marathon near the town of San Martin de los Andes. Just a four hour tune up during the 10 day break between the stage races. During this time I am being hosted by the Argentina Specialized Distributor. I will be sharing a house with the National team coach and some of his riders.
The second stage race is Tour de la Patagonia (3 days) and I am racing with the super fit journalist, Heidi Volpe. I met Heidi at 24 Hours of Moab and she writes for Outside Online as well as other various publications. She’s bringing her a cycling photographer with her, Michael Darter, so we should come away from that race with good pictures and stories in addition to the great training experience. You can check the sites for race updates, but Jenny, Heidi and I will also be submitting race reports to CyclingNews.com and Singletrack.com among others.
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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




