Supportive Community of Nordic Skiers

For all of the tragic things in life, our Gallatin Valley community manages to make the best out of a bad situation. One such way is through the annual Ski for Soren event, a 5k, 10k, and 15k cross-country ski race.

This race was born out of the tragic death of an important member of our community, Soren Hartnett. In July of 2020 he suffered an attack from an undiagnosed genetic disorder called Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome, causing him to go into sudden cardiac arrest during a practice. CPR was administered for 45 minutes before an ambulance arrived and several days later Soren died in the hospital surrounded by his family. The worst part was that Soren would have survived if the team he was practicing with had an AED(Automated External Defibrillator) on hand to restart his heart.

It was because of this that his parents, Mary and Dough Hartnett, decided to find a way to give back to their community while also making sure this never happened again. They started raising money—mainly through the “Ski for Soren” event they set up—to buy an AED for every sports group in town. I joined in the event as a Nordic skier and friend of the family.

The Ski for Soren event was held last Saturday, January 28, 2023 and had an amazing turnout. Nearly 420 people registered to race with over 30 people volunteering to help make sure everything ran smoothly. Due to the cold temperature and massive amount of snowfall, not all who signed up were able to attend the race held at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center. Despite this, the course was beautifully groomed and some competitive racing ensued, and several Olympic and national athletes participated as well.

This amazing event encompassed the extent of what the Gallatin-area Nordic community is capable of. Not only did we host a ski race but also Treeline Coffee generously donated coffee and hot chocolate, and Map Brewing Co. donated beer and drinks for after the race, along with an array of snacks and Powerade for our racers to refuel.

At the end of the event a raffle was held with over a dozen items from businesses including a Sage Resort stay, several Nordic ski hats, and a Patagonia backpack. Additional raffle tickets were sold to raise more money for the cause.

Overall this charity event was awe inspiring and heartwarming despite the frigid temperatures. Ski for Soren fully encompasses what it means to be supported in a community and to give back to those around you.