FlexJet

Polo News

38th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2023

29. November 2022

New team sponsors and teams with top international polo stars

The organisers of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz are delighted to welcome The Kusnacht Practice and Flexjet as new team sponsors of the world’s only high goal tournament on snow. They are joining the ranks of the existing teams Azerbaijan Land of Fire, World Polo League, Clinique La Prairie, and St. Moritz. Casablanca returns as the official outfitter. The team captains will announce their final line-ups in the next couple of weeks. They are expected to sign up top international polo players to get a headstart in the contest for the coveted polo trophy. The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2023 will be held from 27 to 29 January. Admission to the tournament grounds is free.

The Snow Polo World Cup 2023 will see two of last year’s team captains throwing their hats in the ring again. Crowd-pleaser and winner of the previous tournament, Team Azerbaijan Land of Fire will once more be captained by Elcin Jamalli (AZE), who is banking on his proven teammates Adrian and Raul Laplacette Jr. (both ARG) as well as local star Tito Gaudenzi. Expectations are equally high for Melissa Ganzi’s (USA) Team World Polo League. The experienced team captain, who in 2019 was the first female captain ever to win the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz trophy, will leave no stone unturned to repeat her victory. She will play alongside her son Grant and her trusted pillar of strength, Alejandro Novillo Astrada (ARG).

Marc Ganzi (USA) is also returning to the tournament, this time as captain of Team Clinique La Prairie. He is joining forces with Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz regular Nic Roldan (USA) and Fred Mannix, Canada’s best and foremost polo player. After a seven-year hiatus, Spencer McCarthy (GBR) is making his second appearance at the St. Moritz tournament with polo veteran Nacho Gonzalez (ARG) by his side, as in 2016. His son James McCarthy and powerhouse Max Charlton complete the team; Max Charlton, Britain’s best arena polo player, has clocked up no less than four SPWC victories. For Flexjet captain Daniel Deistler from Germany, it will be a debut in the Engadine valley. He is teaming up with the seasoned top players Patrick Maleitzke (GER) and Clemente Delfosse (FRA). For Eduardo Greghi (SUI/BRA), it will also be a first in
St. Moritz, as for his team, The Kusnacht Practice. His inaugural team features Alejo Taranco (URU), Nicolas San Roman, and Charlie Hanbury (both GBR).

With the Badrutt’s Palace, the Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, the Kempinski Grand Hôtel des Bains, the Carlton Hotel, the Suvretta House, the Giardino Mountain, and the Grace La Margna, all five-star hotels are renewing their commitment alongside Maura Wasescha, Trois Pommes and Sprüngli. The next edition of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz thus sees long-standing sponsors and partners return and new international sponsors joining the prestigious event, notably the luxurious Ithaafushi, The Private Island by Waldorf Astoria in the Maldives.

Record high demand for VIP and Chukker Club tickets and tickets for the “Baku Moritz” gala night on Saturday, 28 January 2023. The sumptuous catering in the VIP tent will once again carry the signature of the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel chefs – one more reason to secure one of the tickets in time. Tickets are available at www.snowpolo-stmoritz.com/tickets/. As always, admission to the polo grounds will be free and open to all visitors. Over the three-day event, local chefs, coordinated by the leading hotels Badrutt’s Palace and Crystal, will provide a wide array of delicacies for the public.

Team sponsors Azerbaijan Land of Fire, The Kusnacht Practice, World Polo League, Clinique La Prairie, Flexjet und St. Moritz

Official outfitter Casablanca

Trophy sponsors CentraLab, Casablanca, Clinique La Prairie, Flexjet, St. Moritz und Ithaafushi – The Private Island by Waldorf Astoria

Helmet sponsor Flexjet

Umpire sponsor Maura Wasescha – Luxury Properties for Rent & Sale

Official hotels Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, Kempinski Grand Hôtel des Bains, Carlton Hotel, Suvretta House, Giardino Mountain, Grace La Margna, Crystal Hotel, Steffani Hotel, Hotel Corvatsch, Hotel Laudinella, Hotel Sonne

Guest Resort Ithaafushi – The Private Island by Waldorf Astoria

Offiicial partner hotel in Zurich Hotel Schweizerhof

Official restaurants Chesa Veglia/Polo Bar, El Paradiso, HATO

Sponsors Maura Wasescha, Kessel/Maserati, Pernod Ricard Swiss, UBV Lanz AG, Sprüngli, Azerbaijan Land of Fire, Doppelleu Boxer, Trois Pommes, SBS Swiss Business School, CASINO MORITZ

VIP catering Badrutt’s Palace

Official car Kessel/Maserati

Official suppliers Champagne Perrier-Jouët, Oona Caviar, Cecchetto, Sprüngli, Doppelleu Boxer, Cigar Must, Villa Sandi, Royal Salute

Offiicial medical partner Klinik Gut

Official lab partner CentraLab

Exhibitors Casablanca, Maura Wasescha, Azerbaijan Land of Fire, Casino St. Moritz, Ender Sport St. Moritz, Kessel/Maserati, Caviarlieri Switzerland, Villa Sandi, Ithaafushi – The Private Maldives Island

Public catering Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Crystal Hotel und weitere lokale Partner

Supporters Engadin, Gemeinde St. Moritz, Kanton Graubünden, St. Moritz, Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz, O. Christoffel AG, Blasto

Host Club Evviva Polo Club St. Moritz

Official affiliated club Polo Park & Country Club Zürich

For more information, visit www.snowpolo-stmoritz.com.

New team sponsors and teams with top international polo stars The organisers of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz are delighted to welcome The Kusnacht Practice and Flexjet as…

North America, Polo News

Valiente defends title at the USPA Gold Cup at IPC Palm Beach

4. April 2018

Valiente defends title at the USPA Gold Cup against Flexjet with 12-11. Driven by an ambitious desire to sweep the Triple Crown of Polo, powerhouse Valiente rode for the second consecutive year into the USPA Gold Cup® Final on Sunday, April 1, at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington, Florida. Untouchable throughout tournament play, Valiente faced a strong offensive drive by Flexjet in their second matchup, but ultimately defended their title 12-11.

Claiming two immediate goals in the first, Facundo Pieres set the pace for a fast, competitive final. As the first half progressed, both teams relentlessly traded goals back and forth, Flexjet strategically taking every available opportunity to intercept the ball and capitalize from the penalty line. Demonstrating excellent control, Adolfo Cambiaso propelled the ball downfield, expertly weaving it between Flexjet’s defenders to pick up his first goal in the second. Staying in position and making key plays happen, Valiente’s optimal teamwork secured two additional goals, keeping them ahead by two at the end of the second. “I was mainly playing back on Flexjet’s hit-ins and trying to push forward on our plays,” Tommy Beresford revealed. “I tried to make space for Adolfo and Facundo and since those two are the best they can usually pull through with that.” Missing several opportunities to score, Flexjet allowed Cambiaso to get on another breakaway to goal, doubling the scoreboard. Just before Facundo Pieres could score another goal, Rodrigo De Andrade managed to steal the ball and move it downfield, ending the half 6-3 in favor of Valiente.

Benefiting from gaining possession from the initial throw-in at the start of the fourth, Flexjet’s De Andrade made an effective team play with Nico Pieres for a fast field goal. As both teams began to play a more open style of polo, the goals also began to stack up with increasing speed. Valiente acted quickly in retaliation with a goal each by Cambiaso and Beresford, preventing Flexjet from making up any ground and maintaining a three-goal lead. Explosive in the fifth, Nico Pieres played his strongest chukker yet, hitting a giant neckshot to goal and converting a Penalty 4 and 6 in an effort to derail Valiente in the second half. Consistent throughout, Valiente anticipated the plays and followed through with their team strategy, using Beresford to protect Facundo Pieres and allowing him to have the open shots to goal.

Valiente still in the lead 11-9 as the final chukker began, Cambiaso grabbed his fifth goal of the game, determined to prevent another uprising from Flexjet. Charging up and down the field, De Andrade finally managed to score two consecutive goals bringing his team within one, but the 30-second horn ended Flexjet’s final drive. Valiente claimed their second consecutive USPA Gold Cup® with a final score of 12-11.

Responsible for seven out of 11 goals, five from the penalty line and two from the field, Nico Pieres was named Most Valuable Player. Best Playing Pony honors were awarded to Macarena, a grey mare owned by Mariano Gonzalez and played by Adolfo Cambiaso in the third chukker. “Macarena is an amazing, fantastic horse that can run as long as I need her to,” Cambiaso said. “She will rest for a bit now then go to Argentina to play the Argentine Open with me.”

Looking forward to participating in the prestigious U.S. Open Polo Championship®, Bob Jornayvaz recognizes the steep competition Valiente will have to face in the final 26-goal tournament of the season. “Now the hard work begins, we can’t lose focus so we need to stay healthy and keep the horses healthy” Jornayvaz said. “You have to go out on the field with a game plan, execute it, and stay disciplined. Flexjet came within one goal and that’s when we need to fall back on our game plan because that’s what a good organization is all about.”

Valiente defends title at the USPA Gold Cup against Flexjet with 12-11. Driven by an ambitious desire to sweep the Triple Crown of Polo, powerhouse Valiente rode for the second…

North America, Polo News

Flexjet win its first game of the USPA Gold Cup

23. March 2018

Flexjet rallied for four goals in the sixth chukker to win its first game of the USPA Gold Cup Thursday at International Polo Club Palm Beach. Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, A, Nico Pieres, 8, Gonzalito Pieres, 9, Rodrigo Andrade, 9), tied 5-5 with Audi (Grant Ganzi, 2, Mike Azzaro, 6, Polito Pieres, 10, Nic Roldan, 8) after five chukkers, bounced back for a thrilling 9-6 victory in the battle of Grand Champions Polo Club-based pro teams. Nico Pieres : “This win is good for us. We need to win our next one to go through and if we lose, we still can have another chance in a shootout.”

In biting cold and winds gusting 10 to 15 miles per hour, the score was tied three times before. Nico Pieres opened the sixth chukker with a great goal run to give Flexjet its first lead of the game at 6-5. Flexjet never let up with another nice goal run by Andrade and second goal by Nico Pieres and won the throw-in each time. “We were saving everything for the last chukker,” Nico Pieres said with a smile. “We started playing more or less a bit better in the second half.”

10-goaler Polito Pieres, making his IPC winter season debut after arriving from Dubai on Wednesday, scored his fourth and final goal to cut the lead to two, 8-6. “I knew Polito was going to play because he arrived yesterday and told us last night he was going to play,” Nico Pieres said. “We are used to playing against family. Sometimes I play against Facu and Gonza, we are used to it.” Melissa Ganzi took possession of the ball in the final two minutes and worked the clock while going to goal to ice the win with her second score of the game between three Audi defenders.

“I am very happy with our team,” Ganzi said. “It’s always hard to play against your son. It was a really difficult day to play with the wind and cold. It was a nice win but now we have a really tough game on Sunday.” Flexjet improved to 1-1 to remain alive in bracket play in the six-team tournament. Audi dropped to 0-2.

“It was an important win, we are back again in the tournament at 1-1,” Gonzalito Pieres said. “This put us in a position that winning Sunday will put us in second place or if we lose we have a penalty shootout for fourth place. “We are trying to play good together as a team. We know the potential that we have and we have to prove it in the right games. I was missing a lot of goals in the beginning but luckily Nico, Rodrigo and Melissa had some good goals in the end. It’s how we have to play. When we have our chance, we have to take it and when things are not going well we need to be patient because we can win it in the end.” The game featured three members, brothers Gonzalito and Nico Pieres and cousin Polito Pieres, of the Ellerstina team that finished runner-up to longtime rival La Dolfina in the 124th Argentine Open last year.

USPA Polo Network is live streaming the IPC winter season, including the entire USPA Gold Cup tournament, with content from Wellington-based ChukkerTV.

www.gcpolo.com

Flexjet rallied for four goals in the sixth chukker to win its first game of the USPA Gold Cup Thursday at International Polo Club Palm Beach. Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, A,…