‘A once in a lifetime accomplishment’: Sandpoint High’s Fletcher Barrett finishes 90 km cross-country skiing race in Sweden

SÄLEN-MORA, SWEDEN — During his long-term Rotary exchange stay in Sweden, Sandpoint’s Fletcher Barrett wasn’t exactly planning on competing in and finishing the Vasaloppet, the largest cross-country skiing race in the world, but he did — and overcame rough conditions and a back-end start in order to do so.

The Vasaloppet, regarded as the most legendary event in the "Ski Classics" long distance skiing series, drew roughly 15,800 participants this year. With such a large number of participants, it is common to book a spot in the race up to a year and a half in advance.

“At first, my host family suggested that it may be possible for me to ski the Vasaloppet, but we weren’t sure if I could even get a ticket since the race was sold out,” Barrett said.

Barrett, who is 17 years old, didn’t realize he was even eligible until he found out at an arts and crafts fair in Stockholm, where a Vasaloppet booth was set up. Race organizers told him that the age limit to participate was lowered from 18 to 17 years old starting this year. Once Barrett found that out, he said he had to get a ticket somehow. Luckily, there was a way …

“I found out that you could go on this website where people would sell their tickets,” Barrett said. “A lot of people book tickets and either get too scared or can’t do it anymore and then re-sell their tickets broker-style.”

Barrett was indeed able to purchase a ticket eventually, and not long after, found himself getting ready for the uphill battle that lay ahead. On Saturday, March 2, it was time.

After a 3 a.m. wake-up and a two hour ride to the starting line, Barrett was ready to go. He was slated to start in Group 10, the very last group of the Vasaloppet, due to having no seed time. To add onto everything, the conditions were rainy and the snow was slush, making Barrett’s trek even more difficult.

“Right when you start the race you go around a corner and it’s just straight uphill,” Barrett said. “It took me an hour and a half to go the first 6 kilometers … There were some people just rolling around, falling on the hills. It was carnage.”

Barrett, who last raced two years ago, started skiing in fourth grade for the Sandpoint Nordic Ski Club. His prior experience was definitely a factor in his ability to complete the race, which went through eight different Swedish towns in total. Some other motivational factors for Barrett along the way were the two other skiers by his side for the majority of the race, one from Norway and one from Sweden, and a 70-plus year old female veteran that he saw cruising by the competition.

Overall, Barrett was actually one of three American teenagers to participate in Vasaloppet this year. What are the chances Barrett knew both of the other skiers? Extremely small, all things considered, but he did. Both of the other cross-country skiers happened to be from Libby, Mont., a short distance from Sandpoint.

“I had no idea either of them were there,” Barrett said. “I (jokingly) texted their coach, who I have skied with since I was 11, and said, ‘You had your kids at the race and didn’t say hi to me?’ It was very funny.”

All three of the boys finished the race, Barrett did so in 9 hours and 43 minutes, good enough for 6,922nd place out of 11,042 male competitors. 

“It was one of the hardest days ever,” Barrett said. “When I got to the 50th kilometer, I didn’t think I was finishing; 40 more kilometers just seemed impossible. It was definitely the hardest thing I have done during my exchange year. It’s every ‘outdoorsy’ Swedish person’s goal in life to finish the Vasaloppet at least once, so, I’m happy to have finished.”

One would think Barrett may need a day off before heading back to school — nope. Barrett recovered from the race exceptionally well, and after arriving back home at midnight, he was back to his studies at 8 a.m. the following morning.

When asked if he would participate in the Vasaloppet again, Barrett emphatically replied with a yes.

“I would definitely do it again, and hopefully next time there would be some better snow,” Barrett said. “I would also love to bring my skis from the U.S.; I didn’t have the best-fitting skis or other equipment.”

In addition to the Vasaloppet, Barrett has also competed in the Midnattsloppet, a midnight 10K run with over 10,000-plus competitors that takes place on an island south of Stockholm. Outside of skiing and running, he has also taken part in "wild" ice skating, which is outdoor skating on naturally formed ice with long-bladed, Nordic-style ski boot skates. His experience in Sweden thus far has been nothing short of adventurous. 

“If I ever come and live in Sweden again, which I think here is a high possibility due to the fact that I know the language and have enjoyed my stay, I hope to be skiing the Vasaloppet again,” Barrett said.