Bio

photo by Dan Campbell

 

Rebecca Rusch

Ultra Endurance Athlete

Background:

Rebecca’s illustrious career began when she joined the Downers Grove North High School cross-country team for the free track suit and years later, finds herself among the racks of the world’s elite endurance athletes. In August of 2011, Rusch won her third straight Leadville Trail 100 Mountain Bike Race, crushing her previous years record time by almost 16 minutes.

It’s still hard to suppress a grin when people ask me what I do for a living, and I reply: “I am a professional athlete.”

In addition to three 24-hour solo mountain bike World Champion rainbow jerseys, Rusch is the current World Champion for Master’s XC mountain biking, the 2011 National XC  single-speed champion, and a three-time national champion in 24-hour team mountain biking. She has won Idaho’s Short Track state championship (twice), and a 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.

New for the 2011 season, Rebecca also organized a series of female ride initiatives called the “SRAM Gold Rusch Tour”.  The program included race & training clinics at Sea Otter and Beti Bike Bash, a female media camp for the Ashland Super D, and an all girls MTB camp in her hometown of Ketchum, Idaho.

Rebecca is an active part of the Ketchum community; for more than 3 years she has been a stalwart volunteer emergency medical technician and firefighter for the Ketchum Fire Department, consulted with Blaine County Rec District (BCRD) trails program and works with Wood River Bike Coalition, in addition to being a homeowner.

Career Highlights:

3-Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB Winner and current record holder (2009, 2010, 2011)

National XC Single-speed Champion (2011)

World Master’s XC Champion (2010)

3-Time 24 Hour Solo Mountain Bike World Champion (2007, 2008, 2009)

24 Hour Team Mountain Bike National Champion (2008 and 2009)

Idaho Short Track State Champion (2008 and 2009)

Idaho Cyclocross State Champion (2009)

24 Hour Solo Mountain Bike National Champion (2006)

USA Cycling Ultra Endurance Series Winner (2006, 2007, 2009)

Masters Cross Country skiing World Champion (2008)

24 Hour Orienteering National Champion (2006)

Raid Gauloises Adventure Racing World Championships, 1st (2003)

US Whitewater Rafting National Champion Team (2001 and 2002)

Raid Gauloises Expedition Races (2000, 2002, 2003)

Eco Challenge Adventure Races (1997-2002)

Primal Quest Expedition Races (2002-2006)