Rachel Gutish shares her thoughts on racing ISDE Women’s World Trophy 2024 – her 9th edition. In what can be described as a remarkable record, Rachel has etched her name in FIM International Six Days Enduro history taking P3 with Team United States in 2014, followed by victory in 2021 and 2023.
From Rachel’s perspective, competing in ISDE WWT as a team rider, not only fuels immense source of pride to represent her country on the world stage, but also ignites deep desire to produce her best possible performance over the course of six days. Given, Rachel has embraced this principle of thought through-out her racing career, the sheer delight of standing on the top step of the podium remains just as important to her now, as it did all those years ago.
Take this season as case in point. Rachel took every twist and turn of her race schedule to task – from the challenges of securing budget to race at home, to grabbing the opportunity to compete in Europe’s Women’s Enduro World Championship, to racing US Sprint Enduro’s and GNCC WXC, to making debut entry in E Xplorer Final Round, and now – racing ISDE WWT in 2 days time. The overall goal – to make the podium again.
For certain, Rachel’s quest to push herself that bit further season-on-season derives from an innate ability to embrace the unpredictable elements of racing as an opportunity to achieve growth – both personally and professionally. As Rachel states:
”I think that’s one of my biggest advantages. I’m truly a jack of all trades. I’m confident that I could go to any off-road series in the world and notch another podium in the women’s pro class. Maybe even win if it’s something I have some familiarity with. But Enduro GP really stands out this year – both because I had a blast there, and because the format so closely mimics my side in so many ways. I feel more prepared than I ever have going into this year’s ISDE! It is also a series that requires you to be good at so many different things. It challenged me in a lot of ways. And being challenged is how you grow”.
Finishing Women’s Enduro World Championship in P2 overall, Rachel continued to operate at full throttle – racing E Xplorer Final Round, followed by mapping out preparations for racing ISDE WWT in Spain. Not under-estimating the stamina required to complete a full schedule of racing in America, in Europe, back home, then onwards to Spain – Rachel admits she powers through tasks – as that is how it has always been.
Rachel: ”For the last six years I’ve been at various times, a racer, coach, nutritionist, team manager, travel agent, journalist, graphic designer, social media manager, landscaper, postal carrier, warehouse worker, pizza delivery driver, roofer and logger. I just figure it out and get it done. Isn’t always pretty, but I make it work”.
”I don’t rest or relax enough. I know it. But I can’t. Any day I’m not training has to be filled with all the other aforementioned nonsense. But I always get my 8-9 hours of sleep and I make sure I’m eating right. That goes a long way. I try to take a nap the day before my races, and even if I’m doing work of some kind that day, I try and schedule things so it’s mentally and physically my lighter tasks”.
Heading into ISDE WWT 2024, Rachel focuses on goals at hand – working along-side her Team United States rider’s: Brandy Richards, and Ava Silvestri to produce a winning performance for a second consecutive year. Rachel: ”You know, I actually feel pretty good right now. One, because team USA handles almost all my logistics. This is the only two weeks of my life I really don’t have to think”.
“‘Two, because the ISDE is such a demanding event and it happens so late in my season, it’s the only one I really do a traditional “taper” for. I’ve still done some strength training, and my usual yoga/stretching routines, but for the last couple weeks I reduced my cardio considerably and only rode a few times. I rely on the fitness and skills I’ve built all year to carry me through the event, and just focus on memorizing the tests and trying to rest as much as possible”.
And the strategy: ”Rule number one is to finish. Especially if the weather makes it challenging. Yes, you push hard, but ideally you aren’t taking too many risks if you don’t have to. Luckily all three of us have already raced ISDE before and have a good idea what each of us needs to focus on to perform. We’ve spent the week walking, sharing ideas for lines, discussing strategy. We’re ready to go”‘.
Hardly surprising, Rachel has achieved all goals with such fierce determination that racing ISDE WWT for the 9th time, only adds more passion into the mix for defending Team United States Title. Why?
Rachel: ”Yep, ISDE… you either love it or hate it, not much in-between. My first ISDE, I was 16 and wildly unprepared. It rained every day and was the hardest thing I had ever done. I suffered a lot, didn’t finish that year… but I cried my eyes out on the plane ride home because I thought they’d never let me come back again (laughs). So I was hooked right from the beginning. I love everything about the event and as long as I am fast enough to represent my country well, I will be here. So to answer your question, I’m motivated by love”.
ISDE Women’s World Trophy October 14 – 19. Header photo: Rachel Gutish testing ahead of racing ISDE Image: @mastorgne
Words: Sharon Cox.
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