Rebecca Rusch

Recent Rebecca Rusch Videos:
Rebecca Rusch's Gear:
  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=10Era&eid=4342&menuItemId=9247

    Era FSR

    The fastest, lightest and most efficient performance mountain bikes,

    Learn More at Specialized.com

  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCExperience.jsp?eid=4952&menuItemId=9301

    S-Works MTB Helmet

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

    Learn More at Specialized.com

  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCExperience.jsp?eid=5095&menuItemId=9406

    Specialized Gloves

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

    Learn More at Specialized.com

  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCExperience.jsp?eid=4953&menuItemId=9300

    Specialized Optics

    Prevents harmful UV rays from getting in your way ...

    Learn More at Specialized.com

  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCExperience.jsp?eid=4927&menuItemId=9309

    MTB Shoes

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

    Learn More at Specialized.com

  • http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/SBCExperience.jsp?eid=5098&menuItemId=9304

    Tires

    The product that started it all.....

    Learn More at Specialized.com

Era FSR

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.

LAS DIOSAS

January 22, 2010

Just 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.

Stats for Rebecca Rusch are coming soon.
Epic
Epic

The fastest XC race bike on the planet

BG Fit
BG Fit

Ride faster, longer, and in greater comfort.

Era
Era

Supreme Cross Country Performance

All content © copyright 2010 Specialized Bicycle Components. All Rights reserved.