snow polo event

Polo News

Blade And Bow Captures St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship; Tommy Biddle Named MVP; Event Raises A Record $100,000

22. December 2022

ASPEN, Colo., December 22, 2022—In a thrilling finish, Blade And Bow won its first St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship Wednesday at Rio Grande Park.

Blade And Bow (Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 6, Tommy Biddle, 9) rallied from a four-goal deficit to defeat St. Regis (Melissa Ganzi, 0, Nacho Figueras, 6, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7), 9-8, in front of a soldout VIP tent and worldwide ChukkerTV audience.

Biddle, making his fourth finals appearance, won the tournament for the first time and was named Most Valuable Player. „I am happy to finally win,“ Biddle said. „This makes it a very Merry Christmas. To be honest, I thought if we didn‘t win it they ought to kick me in the butt.“

The former 10-goal rated arena player had the play of the day scoring a goal off a knock-in the length of the field with 16 seconds left in the second chukker.

„I got very, very, very lucky because that ball is very tough to control,“ Biddle said. „When I hit it I went ‚what a crappy shot‘ because it looked like it was going to the right and going out of bounds. Then it curled back in and landed in and I went ‚oh wow.‘“

St. Regis, a 14-goal rated team, started with a 3-0 lead based on handicap against Blade And Bow. Melissa Ganzi made it 4-0 with a long goal just past center field. Biddle scored with 3:12 left in the opening chukker as Blade And Bow started to claw its way back into the game.

Grant Ganzi converted a 15-yard penalty to tie the game, 6-6, with 3:57 left in the third chukker. Melissa Ganzi then converted a 15-yard penalty to give St. Regis back the lead, 7-6. Hilario Figueras scored on a neck shot with 1:53 to tie the game again, 7-7. Nacho Figueras was awarded a penalty one for an 8-7 lead. Blade And Bow was also awarded a penalty one when Grant Ganzi was impeded with as he attempted to score and tied the game again, 8-8, in the third chukker.

In another big play, Grant Ganzi jumped on the line to draw a St. Regis foul and successfully converted a 15-yard penalty which turned out to be the winning goal for a 9-8 lead with 3:32 left in the game.

“We were clawing back the whole game,“ said Grant Ganzi after winning his third St. Regis title. „They got a cushion on us and then they scored a quick one, my mom scored an amazing goal. And they scored another goal. It was a lot of goals we had to make up. And I missed a couple of penalties. So, honestly, I was proud of my teammates. They fought really hard and I was happy I was able to knock the penalties down the second half when they were really important.

„I was just happy we were able to come back and not give up,“ Ganzi said. „It was an amazing game. Hats off to St. Regis. They played incredible. My mom played one of the best snow polo games I’ve seen her play in her life and Alejandro and Nacho battled their asses off to win. Kudos to them and all the love in the world to my teammates. They killed it.”

St. Regis had its chances to score late in the chukker missing two penalty shots and having a goal called back because of a foul. With 48 seconds left, Grant Ganzi stole the ball from Astrada and ran out the clock.

„I knew that having to give up three goals on handicap in the snow is a lot different from playing in the arena,“ Biddle said. „There was no sense to get upset. Just go and keep working and working and working. I figured we would get it worked out by the end.

„We really should have gone up by two goals and there would have been a lot less pressure but then we had to hang on for dear life because they had a couple of opportunities late.“

Biddle and Figueras each had three goals. Ganzi had two goals and was awarded a penalty-one.

Added Nacho Figueras, who has competed in all 10 St. Regis snow polo tournaments. “It’s always fun to see the kids excel. So that was fun. But I always like to win, so I wasn’t so happy about the result. But they beat us fair and square and I can’t wait until next year.”

In the second game of the doubleheader, Richard Mille (Sarah Siegel Magness, 1, Jesse Bray, 7, Pablo MacDonough, 10) defeated NetJets (Scott Wood, 2, Juan Martin Zubia, 9, Sugar Erskine, 7), 6-4, for the Aspen Cup. MacDonough scored a game-high four goals and was named Most Valuabler Player.

In the battle for fifth and sixth place in the six-team tournament on Tuesday, CK Shack (Santos Bollini, 3, Martin Uranga, 7, Juan Bollini, 4) defeated Edmiston (Cable Magness, 1, Jason Crowder, 7, Jeronimo Del Carril, 9), 9-5. Juan Bollini was selected MVP.

In the Celebrity Polo Round Robin, Aspen Valley Polo Club (Sterling Jones, Marc Ganzi, Nacho Figueras) won the three-team round robin, 1-0, over Casablanca (Saul Sacca, Juan Bollini, Grant Ganzi). Lugano Diamonds (Joyce Bonelli, Martin Uranga, Vinny Sangaline) finished third.

Irenita Sofia, owned and played by Grant Ganzi, was the Best Playing Pony for the final.

Open Deliciosa, played by MacDonough and owned by Halo Polo, was the Best Playing Pony for the tournament.

Call of Duty, played by Zubia and owned by Halo Pony, was the American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony of the tournament.

The six-team event was the most competitive tournament in its 10-year history.

„You have really good players that are playing here,“ Biddle said. „And the patrons that are playing in the tournament play very well. The Ganzis shipped out three loads of horses to help mount everybody.“

Blade And Bow Blade is a brand of bourbon whiskey produced at the original site of the iconic Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. The original distillery closed its doors in 1992, and the company Diageo re-opened the facility in 2014. In regards to the origins of the Blade and Bow name, it represents the two parts of a skeleton key, the blade shaft and the ornate bow.

For the second consecutive day, actress and singer songwriter Kelley Jakle, sang a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem and flag bearer Jenna Hammond carried the American flag on horseback during the pre-game ceremony.

During the awards ceremony, tournament co-host Marc Ganzi announced that $100,000 had been raised from record ticket sales (doubled from last year) and donations for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation and Calaway-Young Cancer Center.

„All of you showed up this weekend,“ said tournament co-host Marc Ganzi. „I know a lot of you came from a long distance to support the World Snow Polo Championships and part of that support is when all of you reached into your checkbooks and you bought VIP tickets to come. We blew this out. We raised $100,000 this weekend which is incredible. We were at $30,000 two days ago.“

Ganzi also praised the community support for the event.

„This week doesn‘t happen without a lot of important people,“ Ganzi said. „I have to give a lot of credit to Mayor Torre and the City Council. This city continues to support this event. We can‘t do it without the city of Aspen or without the help of Aspen Skiing Company. That‘s what this community does. It shows up and pulls for everyone and I want to give a great round of applause for the city of Aspen for their partnership in this event.“

For the tenth consecutive year, Aspen Valley Polo Club owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi hosted the world-class event which has joined St. Moritz as one of the world‘s top snow polo tournaments and one of Aspen‘s major international sporting events. It was the final stop on the World Polo Tour and only snow polo event in North America.

Past winners were: 2021, Richard Mille (Sarah Siegel Magness, Jesse Bray, Pablo MacDonough); 2020, World Polo League (Riley Ganzi, Hilario Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada); 2019, Richard Mille (Edouard Pan, Pablo MacDonough, Louis Jarrige); 2018, Richard Mille (Marc Ganzi, Martin Pepa, Pablo MacDonough); U.S. Polo Assn.; 2017, (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nic Roldan); 2016, Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini); 2015, U.S. Polo Assn. (Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Juancito Bollini); 2014, Piaget (Marc Ganzi, Jeff Hall, Nic Roldan); and 2013, St. Regis (Nacho Figueras, Nic Roldan, Brandon Phillips).

With the majestic 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop, Aspen Valley Polo Club continues to be one of the busiest and fastest growing USPA-sanctioned clubs in the nation. Aspen Valley Polo Club has become the world‘s destination spot for summer and snow polo.

Since Marc and Melissa Ganzi resurrected the club and polo in 2014, polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities with the club‘s offerings of various weekly grass and arena tournaments, Arena & Asado Nights, Kidz Polo, Kids Wheely Polo, The Polo School headed by former 8-goaler Juan Bollini, and Polo On Demand. In addition, the club offers practice sessions for teams competing in the club tournaments.

By Sharon Robb
Photos by Nick Tininenko

ASPEN, Colo., December 22, 2022—In a thrilling finish, Blade And Bow won its first St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship Wednesday at Rio Grande Park. Blade And Bow (Grant Ganzi,…

Polo News

CK Shack Wins High Alpine Cup At St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship; Final Day Action Wednesday

21. December 2022

CARBONDALE, Colo., December 21, 2022 — CK Shack rebounded from its two close losses on opening day to capture the High Alpine Cup Tuesday at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship.

In the battle for fifth and sixth place in the six-team tournament, CK Shack (Santos Bollini, 3, Martin Uranga, 7, Juan Bollini, 4) was unstoppable jumping out to quick lead and never relinquished it for a 9-5 victory over Edmiston (Cable Magness, 1, Jason Crowder, 7, Jeronimo Del Carril, 9) at Rio Grande Park.

In Monday‘s qualifying round at Aspen Valley Polo Club, CK Shack lost to defending champion Richard Mille, 9-7, and Blade And Bow, 7-6.

„We‘re always happy to win and play our best,“ Bollini said. „I‘m always excited to play and Santos was on the field and that always gives me an extra push when I play with my kids.

„That team was a good team,“ Bollini said. „We started very strong in the beginning and everything went our way in the first two chukkers. Then they came back a bit. Then the fourth chukker we dominated again.“

CK Shack started off with a 2-0 lead on handicap and quickly built a 6-1 halftime lead. CK Shack led 8-3 after the third chukker. Edmiston tried to dig itself out a hole in the second half but ran out of time.

CK Shack got balanced scoring from its lineup. Uranga led with three goals and father and son Juan and Santos Bollini each had two goals. Magness and Crowder each had two goals and Del Carril added one for Edmiston.

In the Celebrity Polo Round Robin, Aspen Valley Polo Club (Sterling Jones, Marc Ganzi, Nacho Figueras) won the three-team round robin, 1-0, over Casablanca (Saul Sacca, Juan Bollini, Grant Ganzi).

Jones scored the winning goal with 23 seconds in the final chukker. Jones was leading scorer with two goals. Lugano Diamonds (Joyce Bonelli, Martin Uranga, Vinny Sangaline) finished third.

„It‘s fun to have new people in the game and show them how much fun and safe it is,“ Bollini said. „And celebrity people talk about it and help make it bigger.“

The High Alpine Cup was the first of three tournament finals. On Wednesday, the third and final day of the prestigious tournament, action continues with a doubleheader featuring the championship and Alpine Cup.

In front of an expected sellout VIP crowd and worldwide ChukkerTV audience, Blade And Bow (Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 6, Tommy Biddle, 9) will play St. Regis (Melissa Ganzi, 0, Nacho Figueras, 6, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7) in the championship final at 1 p.m. MST.

Richard Mille (Sarah Siegel Magness, 1, Jesse Bray, 7, Pablo MacDonough, 10) and NetJets (Scott Wood, 2, Juan Martin Zubia, 9, Sugar Erskine, 7) will play for the Aspen Cup at 3 p.m. followed by the trophy presentation ceremony at 4:15 p.m.

„This tournament has been very competitive,“ Bollini said. „We saw really good games yesterday and today was a good game, too. The level of this tournament is getting better and better. The players and horses are better every year. The condition of the field today was fantastic.“

In the qualifying round on Monday, Blade And Bow advanced into the final with a 5-4 overtime upset over three-time defending champion Richard Mille. St. Regis defeated NetJets, 7-5, to advance.

It will be the second consecutive finals appearance for St. Regis. In last year‘s final, St. Regis (Melissa Ganzi, 1, Nacho Figueras, 6, Nic Roldan, 9) lost to defending champion Richard Mille, 9-6.

Five of the six player finalists have won the coveted cup at least once. Only Biddle, a former 10-goal rated arena player, has not won it. The final will pit father against son Nacho and Hilario Figueras and mother against son Melissa and Grant Ganzi.

The event, one of the world‘s top snow polo tournaments and only snow polo event in North America, is a fundraiser for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation and Calaway-Young Cancer Center. In addition to ticket proceeds, donations are welcomed.

For the tenth consecutive year, Aspen Valley Polo Club owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi are hosting the world-class event which has joined St. Moritz as one of the world‘s top snow polo tournaments and one of Aspen‘s major international sporting events. It is the final stop on the World Polo Tour and kickoff to the holiday social season in Aspen.

Past winners are: 2020, World Polo League (Riley Ganzi, Hilario Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada); 2019, Richard Mille (Edouard Pan, Pablo MacDonough, Louis Jarrige); 2018, Richard Mille (Marc Ganzi, Martin Pepa, Pablo MacDonough); U.S. Polo Assn.; 2017, (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nic Roldan); 2016, Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini); 2015, U.S. Polo Assn. (Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Juancito Bollini); 2014, Piaget (Marc Ganzi, Jeff Hall, Nic Roldan); and 2013, St. Regis (Nacho Figueras, Nic Roldan, Brandon Phillips).

By Sharon Robb
Photos by Nick Tininenko

2022 Aspen World Snow Polo Championship

Schedule

Wednesday 12/21
12 p.m. VIP tent opens

1 p.m. Championship Final
St. Regis vs Blade And Bow

3 p.m. Aspen Cup Final
Richard Mille vs NetJets
at Rio Grande Park

Purchase Tickets

CARBONDALE, Colo., December 21, 2022 — CK Shack rebounded from its two close losses on opening day to capture the High Alpine Cup Tuesday at the St. Regis World Snow…

Polo News

Stunning Overtime Upset Highlights Opening Day Action At St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship

20. December 2022

CARBONDALE, Colo., December 20, 2022 — Opening day action of the 10th annual St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship was one of the most competitive in tournament history.

In the biggest upset of the day, Blade & Bow (Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 6, Tommy Biddle, 9) knocked off three-time defending champion Richard Mille (Sarah Siegel Magness, 1, Jesse Bray, 7, Pablo MacDonough, 10), 5-4, in overtime, to advance into the championship final Wednesday against St. Regis (Melissa Ganzi, 0, Nacho Figueras, 6, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7).

Five of the six player finalists have already won the coveted cup at least once. Only Biddle, a former 10-goal rated arena player, has not won it. The final will pit father against son Nacho and Hilario Figueras and mother against son Melissa and Grant Ganzi.

„We got really lucky,“ Grant Ganzi said. „We beat two very, very strong teams. I think all the teams here are strong this year. We are very lucky to be in the final.

„It was really tight (against Richard Mille) the whole time,“ Ganzi said. „We just knew that we needed to play super simple and open and keep moving the ball.“

After 12 chukkers of hardfought polo in Aspen Valley Polo Club‘s indoor arena, the matchups have been decided for the next two days when action now moves onto the hard-packed snow at Rio Grande Park.

On Wednesday, in front of an expected sellout VIP crowd and worldwide ChukkerTV audience, Blade & Bow will play St. Regis in the championship final at 1 p.m. followed by Richard Mille and NetJets (Scott Wood, 2, Juan Martin Zubia, 9, Sugar Erskine, 7) playing for the Aspen Cup at 3 p.m.

„It‘s going to take everything to beat St. Regis,“ Ganzi said. „They have a lot of experience and don‘t make a lot of mistakes so we have to limit ours. It will be really tough to beat them.

„It‘s a totally different game from arena to snow,“ Ganzi said. „Arena has the big walls. Playing in the snow is a totally different ball game. The ball bounces out more and you have all the fans screaming. It takes a lot of getting used to it but it‘s always amazing to play in the snow.“

On Tuesday, CK Shack (Santos Bollini, 3, Juan Bollini, 4, Martin Uranga, 7) and Edmiston (Cable Magness, 1, Jason Crowder, 7, Jeronimo Del Carril, 9) will play for fifth and sixth place in the High Alpine Cup at 1:15 p.m. followed by the popular Celebrity Polo Round Robin at 2:30 p.m.

Celebrity team sponsors and lineups are: Lugano Diamonds (Joyce Bonelli, Martin Uranga, Vinny Sangaline); Aspen Valley Polo Club (Marc Ganzi, Sterling Jones, Nacho Figueras); and Casablanca (Saul Sacca, Grant Ganzi, Juan Bollini).

In Monday‘s Bracket One qualifying games, Richard Mille defeated CK Shack, 9-7; Blade & Bow edged CK Shack, 7-6; and in a true final Blade & Bow knocked off Richard Mille, 5-4, in overtime with Hilario Figueras scoring the game-winner on a back shot.

„I thought we had a shot at the final when I saw our team on paper, I‘m not going to lie,“ Ganzi said. „Having Biddle in the arena is a huge help and obviously Hilario is fantastic.“

In Bracket Two action, NetJets defeated Edmiston, 6-4; St. Regis topped Edmiston, 9-6; and in another true final, St. Regis led from start-to-finish to defeat NetJets, 7-5.

Among leading scorers: Uranga, 6 goals; Hilario Figueras, 6; Zubia, 6; Bray, five; Del Carril, 5; Nacho Figueras, 5; MacDonough, 4; and Melissa Ganzi, 4.

Last year Richard Mille made history at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship. In front of a soldout heated VIP tent, Richard Mille (Sarah Siegel Magness, 0, Jesse Bray, 7, Pablo MacDonough, 10) won its third title with an impressive 9-6 victory over St. Regis (Melissa Ganzi, 1, Nacho Figueras, 6, Nic Roldan, 9). Richard Mille had won the tournament three of the last four years. MacDonough, the only player on all three winning teams, was named Most Valuable Player.

By Sharon Robb
Photos by Nick Tininenko

2022 Aspen World Snow Polo Championship

Schedule

Tuesday 12/20
12 p.m. VIP tent opens

1:15 p.m. High Alpine Cup Final
Edmiston vs CK Shack

2:30 p.m. Celebrity Polo Round Robin
at Rio Grande Park

Wednesday 12/21
12 p.m. VIP tent opens

1 p.m. Championship Final
St. Regis vs Blade & Bow

3 p.m. Aspen Cup Final
Richard Mille vs NetJets
at Rio Grande Park

Purchase Tickets

CARBONDALE, Colo., December 20, 2022 — Opening day action of the 10th annual St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship was one of the most competitive in tournament history. In the…

Polo News

Let‘s Get This Party Started; St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship Begins Monday

19. December 2022

CARBONDALE, Colo., December 19, 2022 — The stage is set for the 10th anniversary of the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship.

On Sunday night, the draw party featuring player and sponsor introductions was held during a cocktail reception at St. Regis Aspen Resort in a fun and festive atmosphere highlighted by St. Regis‘ traditional champagne sabering.

Several players were still celebrating Argentina‘s win in the World Cup with Nacho Figueras waving an Argentine jersey as he was introduced and Pablo MacDonough and Santos Bollini wearing Argentine jerseys.

„Ten years we have been doing this event with St. Regis and our good friends at Marriott,“ said tournament host and emcee Marc Ganzi. „It‘s really exciting because when you reach ten years in an event in this town it becomes institutional of sorts.

„We have overcome a lot of challenges and it‘s taken a lot of hard work and a lot of people from the community to get us to where we are today.“

Ganzi thanked the City of Aspen and Parks and Recreation Department. „Without their support and without the field we don‘t have snow polo,“ Ganzi said. „It‘s really important we continue to make this a community event.“ Ganzi also thanked the City Council.

„I think this has really become a great event and it‘s one the locals support,“ Ganzi said. „It‘s a great way to kick off the holiday season. This year will be better than ever. We have got six amazing teams.“

After the draw for bracket seeding, three-time defending champion Richard Mille, CK Shack and Blade & Bow are in Bracket One. Edmiston, NetJets and St. Regis are in Bracket Two. Round robin matches will be held at the club‘s indoor arena in Carbondale Monday at noon (Bracket One) and 2 p.m. (Bracket Two).

Team sponsors and rosters are:

Blade & Bow (18): Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 6, Tommy Biddle, 9.
Richard Mille (18): Sarah Siegel Magness, 1, Jesse Bray, 7, Pablo MacDonough, 10.
Edmiston (17): Cable Magness, 1, Jason Crowder, 7, Jeronimo Del Carril, 9.
NetJets (18): Scott Wood, 2, Juan Martin Zubia, 9, Sugar Erskine, 7.
St. Regis (14): Melissa Ganzi, 0, Nacho Figueras, 6, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7.
CK Shack (14): Juancito Bollini, 4, Martin Uranga, 7, Santos Bollini, 3.

Celebrity team sponsors and lineups are: Lugano Diamonds: Joyce Bonelli, Martin Uranga, Vinny Sangaline; Aspen Valley Polo Club: Marc Ganzi, Sterling Jones, Nacho Figiueras; and Casablanca: Saul Sacca, Grant Ganzi, Juan Bollini.

After Monday‘s qualifying at Aspen Valley Polo Club, action continues Tuesday and Wednesday at Rio Grande Park in front of an expected sellout crowd and worldwide ChukkerTV audience.

On Tuesday and Wednesday from noon-4 p.m., action moves to Rio Grande Park in downtown Aspen where the semifinals and celebrity matches are Tuesday and final and Aspen Cup consolation game and trophy presentation are Wednesday.

On Tuesday at 1:15 p.m., the High Alpine Cup for fifth and sixth places will be held followed by the popular Celebrity Polo Round Robin Cup. On Wednesday, the championship final is 1 p.m. followed by the Aspen Cup at 3 p.m.

The art of sabrage is the signature ceremony of the St. Regis Evening Rituals series. Dating back to the battles of Napoleon Bonaparte, who along with his soldiers, opened champagne with his saber in both victory and defeat, Napoleon once said, “Champagne: in victory, one deserves it; in defeat, one needs it.”

The event, one of the world‘s top snow polo tournaments and only snow polo event in North America, is a fundraiser for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. In addition to the ticket proceeds, donations are welcomed.

Richard Mille has won the tournament three of the last four years. MacDonough, the only player on all three winning teams, was named Most Valuable Player.

By Sharon Robb
Photos by Nick Tininenko

2022 Aspen World Snow Polo Championship

Schedule

Sunday 12/18 6:30 p.m.
Team draw at St. Regis Aspen Resort

Monday 12/19 12 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Preliminary Games
at Aspen Valley Polo Club

Tuesday 12/20
12 p.m. VIP tent opens
1:15 p.m. High Alpine Cup Final
Celebrity game
at Rio Grande Park

Wednesday 12/21
12 p.m. VIP tent opens
1 p.m. Championship Final
3 p.m. Aspen Cup Final
at Rio Grande Park

Purchase Tickets

CARBONDALE, Colo., December 19, 2022 — The stage is set for the 10th anniversary of the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship. On Sunday night, the draw party featuring player…

Polo News

Team Sponsors, Rosters Announced For 10th Anniversary Of St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship

17. December 2022

CARBONDALE, Colo., December 17, 2022 — One of the world‘s top snow polo tournaments and only snow polo event in North America, will feature six teams competing for the coveted winners‘ trophy.

The tournament teams and rosters are:

The celebrity team sponsors and lineups are:

Lugano Diamonds: Joyce Bonelli, Nito Uranga, Vinny Sangaline.
Aspen Valley Polo Club: Marc Ganzi, Sterling Jones, Nacho Figiueras.
Casablanca: Saul Sacca, Grant Ganzi, Juan Bollini.

In front of an expected sellout crowd and worldwide ChukkerTV audience, action begins Monday, Dec. 19, with qualifying games at Aspen Valley Polo Club and continues Tuesday and Wednesday at Rio Grande Park.

The festivities kick off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. with the draw and team introduction during a cocktail reception and traditional champagne sabering at St. Regis Aspen Resort where team pairings and sponsors will be announced.

On Monday, qualifying round robin matches will be held at the club‘s indoor arena in Carbondale at noon and 2 p.m.

The event is a fundraiser for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. In addition to the ticket proceeds, donations are welcomed.

For the tenth consecutive year, Aspen Valley Polo Club owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi, will host the world-class event along with polo ambassador and St. Regis Connoisseur Nacho Figueras and his wife Delfina.

The event has joined St. Moritz as one of the world‘s top snow polo tournaments and one of Aspen‘s major international sporting events. It is the final stop on the World Polo Tour and kickoff to the holiday social season in Aspen.

The snow polo tournament is a major attraction for the local community, attracts fans from all over the world, and is a major allure for the Aspen community and surrounding areas.

Richard Mille has won the tournament three of the last four years. MacDonough, the only player on all three winning teams, was named Most Valuable Player.

Bray earned the High Scorer Award after scoring 12 goals in the tournament. The 29-year-old scored a game-high five goals in the championship. He also scored four goals in his team‘s 10-7 opening tournament win over Aspen Valley Polo Club and three goals in a 3-2 win over defending champion World Polo League.

It was the most competitive final in the nine-year history of the prestigious tournament.

Past winners are: 2020, World Polo League (Riley Ganzi, Hilario Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada); 2019, Richard Mille (Edouard Pan, Pablo MacDonough, Louis Jarrige); 2018, Richard Mille (Marc Ganzi, Martin Pepa, Pablo MacDonough); U.S. Polo Assn.; 2017, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nic Roldan); 2016, Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini); 2015, U.S. Polo Assn. (Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Juancito Bollini); 2014, Piaget (Marc Ganzi, Jeff Hall, Nic Roldan); and 2013, St. Regis (Nacho Figueras, Nic Roldan, Brandon Phillips).

With the majestic 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop, Aspen Valley Polo Club continues to be one of the busiest and fastest growing USPA-sanctioned clubs in the nation.

Aspen Valley Polo Club finished another successful and historic season in club and Rocky Mountain Circuit history this past summer. Aspen Valley Polo Club has become the world‘s destination spot for summer and snow polo.

By Sharon Robb
Photos by Candace Ferreira & Nick Tininenko

2022 Aspen World Snow Polo Championship

Schedule

Sunday 12/18 6:30 p.m.
Team draw at St. Regis Aspen Resort

Monday 12/19 12 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Preliminary Games
at Aspen Valley Polo Club

Tuesday 12/20
12 p.m. VIP tent opens
1:15 p.m. High Alpine Cup Final
Celebrity game
at Rio Grande Park

Wednesday 12/21
12 p.m. VIP tent opens
1 p.m. Championship Final
3 p.m. Aspen Cup Final
at Rio Grande Park

Purchase Tickets

CARBONDALE, Colo., December 17, 2022 — One of the world‘s top snow polo tournaments and only snow polo event in North America, will feature six teams competing for the coveted…

North America, Polo News, Snow Polo

Aspen World Snow Polo Championship announces players, sponsors, rosters

14. December 2020

ASPEN, Colo., December 8, 2020–The much-anticipated Aspen World Snow Polo Championship, one of the world’s top snow polo tournaments and only snow polo event in the U.S., will take place in Aspen Colorado, December 18th – 20th.

Returning fan favorite players include 8-goalers Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Nic Roldan, living legend Horacio Heguy and Nacho Figueras, both 6-goalers, along with Celebrity game players; actor Sterling Jones, and actress/producer Miss Saye Yabandeh.

Richard Mille is returning as the official timekeeper as well as team sponsor for the Aspen World Snow Polo Championship. Mille created the RM 53-01 Tourbillon for Aspen Valley Polo Club member, Argentine 10 goaler, Pablo MacDonough, their Brand Ambassador.

Alejandro Novillo Astrada is a fourth generation player. He has won back-to-back U.S. Arena Handicap tournament titles in 2018 and 2017 and was MVP in 2017. He was MVP at the 2018 Bendura Bank Snow Polo World Cup Kitzbuhel which his team won.

Nic Roldan, a third generation polo player is the youngest player ever to win the U.S. Open at age 15 in 1998 with Escue and one of America’s top players and has competed in most of the sport’s U.S. and international polo tournaments. Roldan was recently named MVP after GCPC-USA defeated Argentina for their ninth consecutive International Cup title.

St. Regis will return as a team sponsor with team captain Nacho Figueras, the sport’s ambassador and St. Regis Connoisseur. White Claw is joining the team sponsorship this year after a successful partnership with Aspen Valley Polo Club during their 2020 summer season, captained by Vinny Sangaline.

The six team sponsors and rosters are:

Casablanca (+14)
Grant Ganzi (+3)
Juancito Bollini (+4)
Jeff Hall (+7)

White Claw (+13)
Vinny Sangaline (+1)
Horacio Heguy (+6)
Pablo Spinacci (+6)

Richard Mille (+14)
Alex Potampkin (0)
Juan Bollini (+6)
Nic Roldan (+8)

Royal Salute (+14)
Sarah Siegel Magness (+1)
Jesse Bray (+7)
Jason Crowder (+6)

St. Regis (+14)
Tom Barrack (+1)
Nacho Figueras (+6)
Sugar Erskin (+7)

World Polo League (+14)
Riley Ganzi (+2)
TBA (+4)
Alejandro Novillo Astrada (+8)

The Celebrity Polo Chukker team lineup is:
Aspen Valley Polo Club: Sterling Jones, Miss Saye Yabandeh, Nacho Figueras

ChukkerTV: Gary Magness, Gussie Busch, Juan Bollini

The Aspen World Snow Polo tournament is normally a major attraction for the local community, attracting fans from all over the world, and a major allure for the Aspen community and surrounding areas. However, this year the Aspen World Snow Polo Championship will be closed to spectators.

In order to be able to host this year’s Aspen World Snow Polo Championship games during a global pandemic, local community and CDC guidelines must be followed. Aspen Valley Polo club wishes nothing more than to have spectators on the sidelines cheering for our players, it is just not possible at this time. Successfully practicing the same policies in the club’s 2020 summer season, the ultimate goal first and foremost is to keep everyone safe and healthy.

In keeping fans and supporters tuned into all the action, Wellington, FL based ChukkerTV will be live streaming the entire Aspen World Snow Polo Championship, as well as hosting a virtual draw party Thursday December 17^that 8 p.m. from the world-renowned St. Regis Aspen resort, showcasing their famous champagne sabering ceremony during the live stream.

Polo action will take place Friday through Sunday at Aspen Valley Polo Club and Rio Grande Park. Two preliminary qualifying round robin games will be held Friday at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Aspen Valley Polo Club in Carbondale.

Action continues in Aspen on Saturday for the High Alpine Cup game for fifth place at 1:15 p.m. followed by a Celebrity Polo Chukker at 2:30 p.m. The final and subsidiary games are Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m. followed by trophy presentation at 4:15 p.m.

In addition to Richard Mille (2019 Louis Jarrige, Edouard Pan, and Pablo MacDonough2018, Marc Ganzi, Martin Pepa, Pablo MacDonough), past St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship winners include 2017, U.S. Polo Assn. (Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nic Roldan); 2016, Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini); 2015, U.S. Polo Assn. (Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Juancito Bollini); 2014, Piaget (Marc Ganzi, Jeff Hall, Nic Roldan); and 2013, St. Regis (Nacho Figueras, Nic Roldan, Brandon Phillips).

The sport was first played on a frozen lake in St. Moritz, Switzerland, created by Swiss hotelier and polo visionary Reto Gaudenzi in 1985 and has been growing in popularity ever since, attracting thousands of spectators and top players from around the world. In addition to St. Moritz, it’s played in winter sports communities Aspen, Cortina, Italy, Kitzbuhel, Austria, Courchevel, France and Tianjin, China. In the U.S., snow polo is held exclusively in Aspen.

With the majestic 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop, Aspen Valley Polo Club is one of the busiest and fastest growing USPA-sanctioned clubs in the nation.

Since Marc and Melissa Ganzi founded the club in 2014, polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities with the club’s offerings of various weekly grass and arena tournaments, Tuesday Arena & Asado Nights, Kidz Polo, The Polo School headed by former 8-goaler Juan Bollini, and Polo On Demand. In addition, the club offers practice sessions for teams competing in the club tournaments.

Since 2014, Aspen Valley Polo Club has had a positive impact in the local community hosting kids polo camps, teaching lessons and several charitable events at the club that have benefitted local charities including the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation.