St. Regis

Instagram, Polo News

Countdown begins for St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship; tickets on sale

29. November 2022

Von Sharon Robb

Fotos von Nick Tininenko

The countdown begins for the highly-anticipated St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship, one of the world’s top snow polo tournaments and only snow polo event in North America.

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.

On Sunday, Dec. 18, the always entertaining draw and team introduction will be held during a cocktail reception at St. Regis Aspen Resort where team pairings and sponsors will be announced. On Monday, the qualifying matches will be held at the club’s indoor arena in Carbondale. 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 trophy presentation are Wednesday.

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

Heading the field will be some of the world’s top players including Pablo MacDonough, Gonzalito Pieres, Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Figueras.

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 only snow polo event in North America, 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.

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) on the final stop of the World Polo Tour.

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 30-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 Bray’s fifth snow polo tournament appearance and third final. It was also the first game his 2-month old baby Dorothy Lily watched him play.

It was the most competitive final in the nine-year history of North America’s only snow polo tournament and fitting way to kick off the holiday social season in Aspen.

Best Playing Pony was home-bred Centauros, played by Bray and owned by Wellington, Fla.-based Santa Rita Polo Farm.

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.

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.

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.

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
Images by Nick Tininenko

Purchase Tickets

Von Sharon Robb Fotos von Nick Tininenko The countdown begins for the highly-anticipated St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship, one of the world’s top snow polo tournaments and only snow…

North America, Polo News

St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship Announces Schedule, Players, Team Rosters

17. December 2021

ASPEN, Colo., December 8, 2021 — A Who‘s Who in polo players from around the world will compete in the much-anticipated Dec. 16-19 St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship at Aspen Valley Polo Club and Rio Grande Park.

The star-studded lineup is headed by Argentine 10-goalers Pablo MacDonough and Juan Martin Nero; 9-goalers Nic Roldan and Tommy Biddle; and 8-goalers Juan Martin Zubia and Alejandro Novillo Astrada.

The stage is set for the ninth annual St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship.

In addition to returning as title sponsor, St. Regis will return as a team sponsor with team captain Nacho Figueras, the sport‘s ambassador and St. Regis Connoisseur. Figueras will play with Melissa Ganzi and Roldan.

The seven team sponsors and rosters are:

Casablanca (15): Grant Ganzi, 3, Juancito Bollini, 4, Juan Martin Zubia, 8.

Richard Mille (17): Sarah Siegel Magness, 0, Jesse Bray, 7, Pablo MacDonough, 10.

Edmiston (16): Cable Magness, 2, Jason Crowder, 7, Sugar Erskine, 7.

Aspen Valley Polo Club (14): Alecia Seidler, 0, Juan Bollini 4T, Juan Martin Nero, 10.

ChukkerTV (14): Vinny Sangaline, 1, Martin Pepa, 4, Tommy Biddle, 9.

St. Regis (16): Melissa Ganzi, 1, Nacho Figueras, 6, Nic Roldan 9.

WPL (15): Riley Ganzi 1, Hilario Figueras 6, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 8.

The celebrity teams will feature bull rider Landon Miller, actor and director Miss Saye Yabandeh and another player to be announced, playing for ChukkerTV and actor Sterling Jones, Vinny Sangaline and Nacho Figueras playing for Aspen Valley Polo Club.

2020 World Snow Polo Championship winners WPL Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Riley Ganzi, and Hilario Figueras.

Players will take center stage at one of the world‘s top snow polo tournaments and only snow polo event in North America. It is one of Aspen‘s major international sporting events and kickoff to the holiday social season in Aspen.

For the ninth consecutive year, Aspen Valley Polo Club owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi, will host the event along with Figueras and his wife Delfina Blaquier.

In front of a local crowd and worldwide ChukkerTV audience, four days of events will be held during the final stop on the 2021 World Polo Tour.

Jesse Bray and Riley Ganzi.

The week of activities begin with a virtual draw and traditional St. Regis champagne sabering on Thursday at 7 p.m. at St. Regis Aspen Resort Hotel.

Polo action will take place Friday with preliminary qualifying games at Aspen Valley Polo Club‘s indoor arena in Carbondale. Preliminary games are 1 and 2 p.m. followed by a round robin at 3 p.m.

On Saturday at Rio Grande Park the High Alpine Cup is 1:15 p.m. The round robin will determine the fifth, sixth and seventh place teams. A Celebrity Polo Chukker will follow at 2:30 p.m.

On Sunday, the final is 1 p.m. followed by the Aspen Cup at 3 p.m. The trophy presentation is 4:15 p.m. featuring all seven teams.

Juan Bollini, Vinny Sangaline, and Nic Roldan.

A check will be presented to Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation and Calloway Young Cancer Center. The tournament is a fundraiser for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation, the designated philanthropic charity. Donations are welcome.

The event will follow COVID-19 guidelines. Per local state and county guidelines, all attendees must show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result (within 48 hours prior) before entering the event.

Edmiston, a world leader in the super yacht industry will join world-class partners St. Regis, Aspen Valley Polo Club, Richard Mille, Casablanca, NetJets and World Polo League as major sponsors. Edmiston will also co-host the Dec. 28-30 Audi Ajax Cup at Highlands Mountain with Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club.

Deborah Breen, President and CEO of the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation accepts a check for the Calloway Young Cancer Center.

Nestled at the base of the majestic Aspen Mountain, the St. Regis Aspen Resort, a five-star luxury hotel, is between the mountain‘s two primary base ski lifts and within walking distance to all of Aspen‘s shops, restaurants and entertainment. It delivers a benchmark of personalized service and attention to detail amidst the relaxed spirit of the Rocky Mountains.

Richard Mille is the official timekeeper for the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship. Mille created the RM 53-01 Tourbillon Pablo MacDonough for his Brand Ambassador.

NetJets will be an event sponsor for the second year. NetJets boasts a global network unmatched in private aviation. With more than 750 aircraft (equal to the world’s fourth largest airline), the company operates more than 313,000 flights annually worldwide. Figueras is NetJets Brand Ambassador.

Nacho Figueras and Grant Ganzi.

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

The snow polo tournament is a major sports attraction for the local community and fans from all over the world. The breathtaking scenery, venue and great polo action is a major allure for the Aspen community and surrounding areas.

Rio Grande Park is Aspen‘s largest multi-functional park within the city‘s limits and just minutes away from the St. Regis Aspen Resort.

2020 World Snow Polo Championship awards table.

In the U.S., snow polo is held exclusively in Aspen. Snow polo is a modified version of regulation polo. Games are played on a snow-packed field surrounded by fencing to keep the ball in play. Teams have three players instead of four as in typical polo. Play consists of four chukkers. The horses have special cleated shoes to provide better traction. The ball is larger and lighter and a specific color for visibility on the snowy surface.

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.

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

BUY TICKETS

2021 St Regis World Snow Polo Championship Schedule

Thursday 12/16
7 p.m. Team Draw – from St. Regis Aspen Resort

Friday 12/17
Preliminary Games
1pm, 2pm. 3pm

Saturday 12/18
1:15 p.m. The High Alpine Cup
2:30 p.m. Celebrity Polo Chukker

Sunday 12/19
1 p.m. World Snow Polo Championship Final
3 p.m. The Aspen Cup
4:15 p.m. Trophy Presentation

All Games Live on https://www.chukkertv.com in Mountain Standard Time

ASPEN, Colo., December 8, 2021 — A Who‘s Who in polo players from around the world will compete in the much-anticipated Dec. 16-19 St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship at…

North America, Polo News

Snow Polo “White Hot Party With The Players” Set For Dec. 20th, Tickets On Sale

6. December 2019

After three days of snow polo action at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship, fans will get a chance to party with the players for a good cause.

Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation, the designated philanthropic charity for the snow polo event, will host the „White Hot Party With The Players,“ on Friday, Dec. 20th, 6-9 p.m. at the new W Aspen Hotel. Fans will get the opportunity to meet some of the world‘s best polo players and enjoy music mixed especially for the W Aspen Hotel. General admission tickets are $200. VIP tickets are $1,000 and include perks such as Beverly Hills Caviar, bottomless champagne and other exclusive benefits. Also for sale are tickets to join British 6-goal player Malcolm Borwick for a one-hour polo lesson on polo horses on Dec. 20th at 9 a.m. at Rio Grande Park. The experience is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and limited to 10 people at $750 per ticket. To purchase tickets or browse the online auction items, go to bidpal.net/snowpolo.

Borwick is the Royal Salute World Polo Ambassador. Recently, Pernod Ricard announced a „standout new addition“ Royal Salute Snow Polo Edition, available for a limited time throughout December. „The Snow Polo Edition is a standout new addition with an extensive depth of flavour and fresh new look,“ said Royal Salute Master Blender Sandy Hyslop, who developed the limited-edition blend. „Being at the helm of the blending team behind Royal Salute, I‘m always looking for new inspiration, and snow polo has proven to be one of the richest sources yet for creativity and innovation. To capture the apposition of the intensity of the game against the graceful elegance of the backdrop associated with snow polo, it felt like the perfect opportunity to craft the very first blended grain whisky in our portfolio and I couldn‘t be prouder of the result.“ Added Borwick, „Snow polo is a spectator sport like no other with each match delivering an undeniably thrilling atmosphere, set in the breath-taking scenery of immaculate snow-peaked mountains. Royal Salute understands polo and the lifestyle it represents both on and off the field so well, it‘s an honour to be able to help open up the world of polo through the Royal Salute Polo Collection and the global partnerships it has formed over the last ten years.“

All proceeds from the party and auction benefit the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation.

Aspen Valley Polo Club, the nation‘s fastest growing polo club, has a longstanding relationship with the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. The club annually hosts the Chukkers, Champagne and Caviar event in front of a sellout crowds and helped to raise more than $600,000 this summer for priority programs and services at Aspen Valley Hospital. The foundation‘s signature fundraising event has raised over $1.6 million in the past three years. The St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship is one of the world‘s top snow polo tournaments and only snow polo event in the U.S. In front of an expected sellout crowd and worldwide ChukkerTV audience, action begins Wednesday, Dec. 18, with qualifying games at Aspen Valley Polo Club and continues Thursday and Friday at Rio Grande Park. For the seventh consecutive year, Aspen Valley Polo Club owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi, will host the star-studded 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 only snow polo event in North America, 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. 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.

Aspen Valley Polo Club had its most successful and historic summer season in club and Rocky Mountain Circuit history. The club hosted several 20-goal tournaments including the 119th USPA Silver Cup and USPA North American Cup, attracted some of the world‘s top players and had record crowds every weekend. The 20-goal World Polo League‘s Triple Crown of Polo tournament featured five teams and several top players. With the majestic 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop, Aspen Valley Polo Club is one of the busiest 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 area hosting kids polo camps, teaching lessons and several charitable events at the club that have benefitted local charities including the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation.

By Sharon Robb

Click Here To Purchase Tickets:
www.eventbrite.com

2019 St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship Dec. 17-20

12/17 At St. Regis Resort Aspen
8 p.m. Team Presentation/Draw and Cocktail Party

12/18 at Aspen Valley Polo Club
11 a.m. Barn tour & Blacksmith work station
11:30 a.m., Round Robin Game 1
1 p.m., Round Round Game 2

12/19 Press Day at Rio Grande Park
12 p.m. VIP Tent Opens
1:15 p.m. High Alpine Cup, playoff for fifth and sixth place.
2:30 p.m Celebrity Polo Chukker

12/20 at Rio Grande Park
12 p.m. Meet the Players
1 p.m., The Final
3 p.m. The Aspen Cup
4:15 p.m. Trophy Presentation

www.aspenvalleypoloclub.com

© Thomas Wirth

After three days of snow polo action at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship, fans will get a chance to party with the players for a good cause. Aspen…

Europe, Polo News

U.S. Polo Assn. partner for Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup 2019

15. May 2019

The U.S. Polo Assn. will again be the official apparel partner for the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup 2019 creating custom designed performance jerseys for all polo players and providing sport-inspired polo shirts for all event staff. In addition, U.S. Polo Assn. will be one of the team sponsors, playing against The Duke of Sussex’s Sentebale St. Regis team in what should be a very competitive game. The event will take place on Friday, May 24^th at the world-renowned Roma Polo Club in downtown Rome, Italy.

The annual polo event raises funds for Sentebale, an organization co-founded in 2006 by The Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso to support the mental health and wellbeing of children affected by HIV in southern Africa. This year’s Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup will once again capture the world’s attention. The Duke of Sussex’s Sentebale St. Regis team will be captained by Nacho Figueras and include Sarah Siegal-Magness and Michael Carrazza while the U.S. Polo Assn. team will include brand ambassador Ashley Busch, Malcolm Borwick, Chet Lott and Cable Siegal-Magness. The Sentebale St. Regis team will be defending its championship title from last year’s event.

“We are very humbled and honored that U.S. Polo Assn. will once again serve as the official apparel partner and team sponsor of this incredibly impactful charity polo event,” said J. Michael Prince, USPAGL President & CEO, who globally manages the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand. “The Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup aligns with U.S. Polo Assn.’s core values of supporting the sport of polo around the world while also supporting those in need through polo events.”

Sentebale and U.S. Polo Assn. have also designed an apparel capsule collaboration that will be showcased at a “high-energy” pop-up shop at the event to provide attendees the opportunity to further engage with Sentebale through the consumer lens. The product will also be included in the players’ kits for both teams with 100% of the proceeds from the apparel sales being donated to the Sentebale foundation. The remaining product will also be donated to the foundation to be shared with Sentebale staff and those they serve.

U.S. Polo Assn. is the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the nonprofit governing body for the sport of polo in the United States founded in 1890, making it one of the oldest sports governing bodies. With a global footprint of $1.7B and worldwide distribution through 1,100 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores, department stores, independent retailers and e-commerce, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel for men, women and children, as well as accessories, footwear, travel and home goods in 166 countries worldwide.

www.uspolo.org

The U.S. Polo Assn. will again be the official apparel partner for the Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup 2019 creating custom designed performance jerseys for all polo players and providing…