The Arctic Circle Race unfolded as a test of endurance and mental fortitude in the heart of Greenland’s icy expanse. Spanning over three grueling days, the Ski Classics Challengers event held a few weeks ago was a true challenge for its participants. Amongst them stood Ukaleq Slettemark, who took the victory. 

Ukaleq Slettemark’s journey to victory began with the inaugural stage, a 52km classic technique race through the rugged terrain of Sisimiut. Displaying a solid determination, she surged ahead, clinching the top spot with a total time of 4:43:17.0. Her triumph on day one set the stage for what would become a remarkable experience for the Greenlandic athlete. 

As the race pressed forward into its second day, she emerged victorious again, securing her dominance in the women’s category with a total time of 5:36:37.0. 

Yet, on the final day of the race, Slettemark’s true mettle shone brightest. She emerged victorious once more, claiming both the stage three win with a time of 3:51:28.0 and the title of the Arctic Circle Race (ACR). 

How did it feel to secure victory in the overall competition of the Arctic Circle Race?

“When I was in the finish area, I was a little overwhelmed; it was an amazing feeling securing the win. I was, after all, a little surprised. It meant so much to me. I think it was just the feeling of being surrounded by so many lovely people, finally being at home in Greenland, and finally winning a race after a tough biathlon season,” Ukaleq told ProXCskiing.com.

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What challenges did you face during the three days of racing?

“The first day was really challenging for me; I started way too hard, even though that was completely against my plan. I got overtaken in an uphill by Mathilde (the skier who was third in the end), and even though I had my skis off and was sprinting everything I could, I had no chance of following her. She was a couple of minutes in front of me for a while, but only 1 km before the finish, I saw her again and sprinted from her, only winning by 2 seconds.”

“The last two days were much easier because I started smarter and maybe also warmed up a bit from the first day. I had a few people I could ski with, and in the end, I had an internal competition to try and beat one of the boys”, said Ukaleq, adding:

“Another hard moment was the second day; we were skiing for 10km completely flat on the ocean ice. It was only double poling, which is not my strong suit, and on top of that, it was wet, so it was extremely slow. I felt like I was using pure strength and no endurance for it, and it was mentally too demanding, only going in the same motion and seeing the same view for 10 km.”

Training for the Arctic Circle Race

Initially planning for extensive long classic skiing sessions and classic intervals, her preparations were hindered by time constraints as her primary focus remained on biathlon training. Despite her best intentions, she found herself with limited time to dedicate specifically to the Arctic Circle Race preparation.

Adding to the challenge, Slettemark fell ill just ten days before the race, casting doubts on her ability to compete at her best. With only a mere two days available for training before the race commenced, she acknowledged that her preparation fell below her ideal standards. However, fueled by determination and resolve, she persevered, recognizing that despite the setbacks, she had to make it with the time she had.

“I got a lot of great advice from my mom, who has participated 17 times, everything from what I should train, how much water I should bring, what clothes and equipment I should have, how to stop and eat at the drinking stations to race tactics. It’s been a huge help to have her with me before and during the races”, she said.

What aspects of the Arctic Circle Race are most rewarding or memorable? 

“What’s special about the Arctic Circle Race is that it’s over several days, and you have so much time in the camp to sit and talk to everyone; I had such a great time meeting old friends and new people, too. You never run out of things to talk about from the races because everyone has their own experiences and because the race is so long and dramatic.”

What are your aspirations or plans moving forward after such a significant achievement in the Arctic Circle Race? 

“I don’t think I will be doing a lot of long-distance races like this again, but I will certainly come back for the Arctic Circle Race. It’s something special for sure; I love the Greenlandic nature, people, and community.”