Ketchum cyclist stars on the big screen

KETCHUM -- On the extreme mountain biking trails, she's a star, but on Thursday night, a world-class local athlete will be a star on the big screen.

"I am a professional endurance mountain bike racer.  It means I ride for a really long time," said Rebecca Rusch.

Long distances, high altitudes, inclement weather -- this is the environment where Rebecca Rusch thrives.

"When you push beyond your comfort level and you get hungry and tired and want to cry and get lost, but you succeed and get through that, it's a really powerful feeling," said Rusch.

Earlier this year, Rusch raced in one of the most prestigious competitions in America -- the Leadville 100 in Colorado.

"It's a very unique mountain bike race, it's one of the oldest ones in the country. It's a 100-mile mountain bike race and it's all above 10,000 feet in the little mining town of Leadville. Fifteen riders lined up this year," she said.

Among those riders was Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong.  Up to 60 percent of the racers don't finish, but Armstrong did -- he won the men's division. 

And the women's division?  You guessed it -- Ketchum's Rebecca Rusch.

"There were so many people there and there was so much energy crossing the finish line. I've crossed a lot of finish lines at dark or when there's just your mom there or your mechanic and this was different," Rusch said.

Also different because a professional film crew was documenting the trek -- shooting the movie "Race Across the Sky."

"They made a beautiful film and it's very motivating and that's just been icing on the cake," said Rusch.  "I thought they did a good job showing how cold it was, the elements, how tough of a race it really is.  I was walking my bike in a couple sequences, I was not too happy about that."

But Rusch admits it is a rush seeing herself on the big screen.

"I've never seen myself on the big screen so that was very exciting."

There is a special showing of "Race Across the Sky" Thursday at 9 p.m. at the Edwards IMAX Theater on Overland Road.  Tickets are $12.50.