Rebecca Rusch: Professional Athlete, Best-Selling Author, Emmy Winner, Activist, Keynote Speaker

A 7x-world champion and celebrity in the ultra adventure/endurance realm for nearly 3 decades, elected to the prestigious international Mountain Bike Hall Of Fame, her status as a fierce competitor and inclusive influencer motivates millions. Recognized by Outside Magazine among the Top 40 Women Who’ve Made the Biggest Impact, and by Men’s Journal with the 25 Most Adventurous Women, she’s a maverick whose grit, determination, and perseverance labeled her the “Queen of Pain.” By repeatedly embracing risk she has reaped the reward of championship titles, course records, “first-evers” and myriad of accolades, but it’s her desire to share the journey that sets her apart and attracts a loyal following.

Known for seeking the toughest challenges imaginable, pushing herself into unknown territory has yielded a first female ascent on Yosemite’s 3000-ft. El Capitan, a first descent river boarding 300 miles of the entire Grand Canyon in 18 winter days, and a charitable cycling expedition up and down Mt. Kilimanjaro. She’s the only female competitor to win the iconic Leadville 100 (Mountain Bike ) four times; she’s won the renowned Dirty Kanza gravel grinder in 6 of 7 attempts (including the notoriously demanding 350-mile DKXL); she’s the fastest woman to complete the 142-mile Kokopelli Trail through Colorado and Utah (13:32:46), and the first person to ride the entire 1,200-mile length of the Ho Chi Minh Trail, documented in the Emmy-winning film, Blood Road.

She crossed the line as the first female finisher in her first attempt at the Iditarod Trail Invitational by pedaling 350 self-supported miles through the Alaskan wilderness in subzero temperatures in under 4 days, and recently set the FKT as the inaugural rider of the Arkansas High Country Route, completing 1,041 miles and 84,373’ combined elevation gain in 8 straight days, 3 hours and 33 minutes.

As she enters her 50s (version 5.0), her inimitable brand and redoubtable resumé continue to expand. Combining ongoing athletic pursuits with entrepreneurial interests as CEO of Rusch Ventures, she oversees an impactful network of events, products, experiences, and content designed to elevate possibilities for people and their bikes. Whether in print (including the best-selling Rusch to Glory: Adventure, Risk & Triumph on the Path Less Traveled), on the trail, via her popular digital platforms or     as a keynote speaker, she inspires and emboldens countless fans. Her marquee event, Rebecca's Private Idaho, is ranked a top 5 gravel event by Global Cycling Network, and one of the top 25 rides in the world by Outside magazine. Her Rusch Academy full-spectrum cycling retreats boost skills, confidence and performance. Guiding annual MTB Lao adventure travel excursions is a deeply personal expression of Rebecca’s desire to use the bike as a catalyst for healing, empowerment and evolution. Established in memory of her father, Rebecca’s Be Good Foundation focuses on UXO mitigation in Lao, protecting public lands for recreation, and partnering with bike-centric nonprofits to fund meaningful change. As an example, her signature RPI event benefits The Wood River Trail Coalition and Idaho Interscholastic Cycling League (Local); PeopleForBikes (National); and World Bicycle Relief (Global). To date, her efforts have raised over a half-million dollars in support of select nonprofits.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

  • First person to ride the entire length of the Ho Chi Minh Trail

  • Seven-time World Champion in multiple sports

    • Raid Gauloises World Champion(2003)

    • 3x 24 Hour Solo Mountain Bike World Champion (2007, 2008, 2009)

    • Masters Cross Country Skiing World Champion(2008)

    • World Masters XC World Champion (2010)

    • Gravel Bike World Champion(2015)

  • Four-time Leadville 100 MTB Champion

  • Summited Mt. Kilimanjaro by bike

  • Course record: Kokopelli Trail (Moab-Fruita) 13h 32m 46s

  • First & unrepeated self-supported 18-day swim of Grand Canyon in winter (documented in the film Three Women, Three Hundred Miles)


PROFESSIONAL WORK

  • Gold Rusch Tour- Events and rides aimed to get more women and girls on bikes.

  • Rebecca’s Private Idaho- Idaho’s premier gravel grinder in its 7th year.

  • Rusch To Glory- Rebecca’s best-selling autobiography, published in 2014.

  • Keynote Speaking Engagements- Motivational speaker for corporate, academic, and civic audiences on topics ranging from: Evolution-Celebrate Backward, Grow Forward; Taking Risk & Finding Reward; Don’t Be A Boss, Be A Coach; and Reba’s Rules For Success

SOCIAL MEDIA- @RebeccaRusch

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION