Of the many awards and trophies that are hanging in Dan Roycroft’s home, the one he won at a recent ski race in Sweden has to top the list.

The cross-country skier was presented with a chainsaw for placing 24th in the 90 km Vasaloppet in Sweden this past Sunday, which features between 14,000 to 15,000 people in a mass start.

He completed the course in 4:30:18. and was the only North American in the top 200.

He started out in the elite seed because he had completed the Olympic marathon in Torino in 2006, according to his mother, Jerilyn Roycroft.

“He called (Monday) to ask his Dad if (the chainsaw) would be of any use here in Canada, but it’s not compatible. He’ll either give it away or try to exchange it for the cash value,” she said.

Vasaloppet is the oldest, the longest, and the biggest cross-country ski race in the world. It’s an international competition in classic style open to both men and women.

More than 417, 558 women and men have successfully completed this 90 km track over the years.

The great challenge attracts all sorts of skiers, from the true recreational skier aiming only to finish before the 8 p.m. closing time to the finest elite skier. The course record, which stands at 3.38.57, was set during the 1998 Vasaloppet by Peter Göransson from Åsarna.

Roycroft has been competing on the international stage since 1998.

His best finish at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships was 31st in the 50 km event in both 2005 and 2007. Roycroft competed in the 2006 Winter Olympics, earning his best finish of 39th in the 15 km + 15 km double pursuit.