Join Rebecca for 4 days of focusing on the mind-body experience and discovering your full potential.
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June 20-23, 2024
Unlock your true potential at Rusch Academy’s holistic, human-performance gravel cycling camp. Together we go beyond epic endurance days in the saddle and bridge the gap between training the body and training the mind. World champion athlete, Rebecca Rusch, gravel cycling Hall of Famers Yuri Hauswald and Jay Petervary, and certified mindfulness teacher/cyclist Dave Jones, our team of human performance specialists, will expose you to integrative techniques to elevate your health, happiness, and cycling skills.
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We will coach, push, and empower you on riding skills, training, equipment, nutrition, pacing, breathing, mindset, nervous system attunement, focusing skills, somatic awareness, and mindfulness. You will complete this adventure with a new understanding of the mind/body/spirit relationship, tools to develop your own integrated training practices, and the ability to unlock a new level of health and performance.
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If you’re ready for a journey of learning, laughter, inspiration, perspiration, and transformation, Rusch Academy is for you.
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All Inclusive
$2,090 - $2,640 per person
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AVG DAILY
MILEAGE
35 - 85 Miles
depending on ride group
AVG DAILY
ELEVATION GAIN
1,400 - 4,250 FT
depending on ride group
AVG DAILY
TYPE OF TERRAIN
Gravel Backroads
"Knowledge is power. Come share my home training grounds and build confidence and skills for your next adventure." - Rebecca Rusch
IS ACADEMY FOR ME?
Whether you're a competent MTBer or roadie committed to exploring gravel, or a gravel convert seeking to build skills and experience, we welcome riders from intermediate to expert. We break into groups to provide the most favorable rider/coach interactions, so you’ll be nudged to the edge of your comfort zone (and hopefully beyond). Campers and coaches alike will benefit from your candid self-assessment. Our recommendation for getting the most out of Academy is that riders possess, at minimum, intermediate skills and fitness. Here’s what we mean by that:
SKILLS: INTERMEDIATE, 4 out of 8
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Think of a scale from 1 to 8, where 1 = you can stay upright while peddling, and 8 = you’re a pro. At level 4, you're comfortable with “pack etiquette” riding in small groups, you're not afraid of washboards or steep climbs, and you're at least curious if not giddy about navigating MTB terrain with your gravel bike. You can execute:
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Controlled one-finger braking, front independent from rear and vice versa
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Anticipation of terrain changes and shifting accordingly, even if your timing isn’t perfect
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Standing & coasting on 50/50 pedals; enough balance to maintain level pedals on descents
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Scanning ahead to choose/maintain your line and cornering techniques such as looking through turns
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Negotiating bumpy, uneven terrain with confidence
FITNESS: STRONG INTERMEDIATE, 5 out of 8
Similarly, consider your fitness level separate from your skills with the same 1-8 scale, where 1 = coming off the couch and 30 minutes of sustained exercise is your max, and 8 = professional or elite athlete. At level 5, you're comfortable with 3-hour rides 3 days in a row, averaging 10-12 mph on various terrain (mixed surface, flats, hills). You can and do execute:
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Sustained medium-exertion rides multiple days in a row at a moderate pace for an average of about 3 hours
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5- to 6-hour duration rides once in a while
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1,000 feet of elevation gain in a single ride
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Cycling or activity of similar exertion at least 2 times a week
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At least 3-4 hours of exercise per week of exercise
Any questions about whether Academy is right for you? Just ask!
WHAT'S INCLUDED
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4 full days of breathtaking, mind-expanding riding
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3 nights at a remote, cozy guest ranch
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Daily mind and body skills/education
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Daily wellness sessions from certified mindfulness teacher & Yoga Nidra Instructor
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Rusch Academy coaches
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Guaranteed, discounted entry to RPI 2024
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Assorted GU nutrition supplied throughout camp
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Healthy gourmet meals
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Professional mechanic & ride support
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Small ride groups for intermediate to advanced riders
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Fireside relaxation, conversation and general unwinding
THE COACHES
It's not every day you have an opportunity ride alongside a 7-time world champion adventure athlete, two Gravel Hall of Famers, and a licensed mental health professional focused on movement being key to connecting the mind and body.
Yuri Hauswald
Yuri grew up on a farm in rural Petaluma, CA, spending plenty of time outdoors roaming the hills looking for adventure. Yuri discovered the joys of mountain biking while teaching English at a prep school in Pennsylvania, and hasn’t looked back since.
A two-time solo winner of the 24-Hours of Adrenaline and 9th place finisher at the 2006 24-Hour Solo World Championships, 2015 winner of Unbound 200, Yuri’s crisscrossed the country seeking his next two-wheeled trip.
When he’s not racing for Giant Bicycles or working his day job as Elite Athlete Manager for GU Energy Labs, Yuri spends as much time seeking the path less traveled with his wife, Vanessa, and their dog.
Rebecca Rusch
Rebecca is a life-long explorer, 7-time world champion athlete, Gravel and MTB Hall of Fame inductee, speaker, author, and Emmy Award winner. She has spent decades pushing the limits of high-stakes athletic endurance and excellence, earning her acclaim as a true trailblazer in the athletic world.
Beyond her numerous accolades, Rebecca's resilience and commitment to holistic well-being define her journey. Rusch Academy has become a platform which she passionately educates others by sharing her decades of wilderness wisdom, and facilitates the vital role of bridging the mind-body connection for enhanced performance and meaningful self-discovery.
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Rebecca is passionate about sharing this knowledge to empower others in unlocking their full potential both on and off the bike
Dave is a Certified Mindfulness Meditation teacher, adjunct professor at Boise State University, cyclist, musician, father, and husband who has a zeal for living life to its fullest potential.
As an educator, he has facilitated hundreds of workshops and seminars throughout the United States. In 2015, he suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury that changed the trajectory of his life and led him to intensive firsthand learning of techniques and strategies that have helped him live a fulfilling and meaningful life - even when life handed him a much different and challenging curriculum than he had expected.
One of his great joys is coming alongside of others as they engage with life in ever-deepening and meaningful ways.
Dave Jones
Jay Petervary, a true Cycling Legend, has dominated the world of ultra-endurance cycling for decades. With victories in renowned events like the Tour Divide, Iditarod Trail Invitational, and Silk Road Mountain Race, he stands as a paragon of resilience and skill.
Beyond the podium, Jay is a fervent ambassador, delighting in the discovery and pushing of limits by fellow riders. His purpose transcends competition; he seeks to encourage, educate, and inspire people to embrace cycling for fun, health, transport, sport, and adventure.
For Jay, cycling is more than a sport—it's a way of life. He passionately believes that a life powered by cycling contributes to happier individuals, safer communities, and a healthier planet. His advocacy echoes the transformative power of two wheels, leaving an indelible mark on the sport and inspiring countless others to join the cycling revolution.
Jay Petervary
SUPREME LOCATION
Ketchum/Sun Valley is a popular adventure destination-you may want to add extra days on either side of camp to explore. With over 60% of Idaho designated as public land, it's easy to leave civilization behind, embrace the open spaces and fully give yourself over to the #GravelLessTraveled in the heart of southern Idaho.
We'll be riding in the Copper Basin in the Salmon-Challis National Forest, historic native land of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe, capped by the iconic Pioneer Mountains. Riders rave over the stunning scenery and rewarding terrain.
OH, THE FOOD!
You will be well fed. We promise. Our menu is curated with regionally sourced ingredients, designed for performance and prepared with love and care. Fuel is serious business and half the fun! To carry on the good habits post-Academy, every camper will take home The Feed Zone cookbook full of recipes optimizing flavor, convenience and nutrient value.
LODGING
Rusch Academy includes three nights at the rustic Wild Horse Creek Ranch. Surrounded by expansive wilderness and nationally designated land, this will be our private, unplugged basecamp. Lodging options and price points vary among private or shared rooms with "en suite" bathrooms; shared bunk rooms; or primitive teepees (unheated/no indoor plumbing) for those who prefer a rugged camping--not glamping!--experience as well as a few camping spots for those who want to sleep under the stars. All lodging options will have access to indoor plumbing and hot showers.
Sun Valley Mountain Guides operates under special use permits from the following agencies; the United States Bureau of Land Management, Sawtooth National Forest, Salmon-Challis National Forest, and the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board.
THE SCHEDULE
​Wednesday- 6 PM, Sturtevants Bike Shop.
Welcome session, packet pickup, overview, Q & A. Dinner & lodging is on your own, but we can suggest great local spots if you need tips.
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Thursday- Camp begins with a 25 mile ride from Ketchum up and over Trail Creek Summit into Wild Horse Creek Ranch. An afternoon ride is optional for those seeking more mileage.
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Friday & Saturday- Yoga, breakfast, and full days in the saddle. Each day features ride options of varying distance/elevation followed by afternoon lunch, mindfulness practices, and goal setting. Evening entertainment, excellent food + relaxation and recovery.
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Sunday- Enjoy a ripping (but safe) descent from Trail Creek Summit and some sweet singletrack before a late farewell lunch with the crew. (Estimated wrap-up time: 2-3 PM)
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