Tag Archives: Piaget World Snow Polo Championship

St. Regis Defeats Audi to Win Piaget World Snow Polo Championship

Piaget teammates Gonzalito Pieres (3) and Marc Ganzi (1) battle Nacho Figueras (3) of St. Regis for the ball. Photos by Gary Hubbell.

Roldan Named MVP

ASPEN, COLO. — Dec. 20, 2013 — In front of a large hometown crowd and sold out VIP tent, St. Regis defeated Audi, 1-0, Friday to capture the Piaget World Snow Polo Championship at historic Wagner Park.

As a steady snow fell, Nacho Figueras scored the winning goal with 4:18 left in the second chukker with an assist from Wellington’s Nic Roldan.

“There were three good teams here, and it was whoever had the luck,” said Roldan, named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. “It was a war today; no one was going to let up.

“With this new snow, it made it tougher to get the ball,” Roldan said. “It seemed like the way to get the ball clean was to lift it up out of the hole and hit it out of the air and place it somewhere.”

Roldan did exactly that, knocking the fluorescent red ball toward the Audi goal with a well-placed shot. A quick-reacting Figueras, the sport’s international ambassador and face of Ralph Lauren, tapped the ball in for the only score of the game.

“It was hard conditions because of all the snow, but we ended up winning so it was a great day,” Figueras said. “I’m happy and proud. To be able to play polo in this environment and with this background is really fantastic.”

Juan Bollini (2) keeps possession of the ball with teammate Melissa Ganzi (1) and Nacho Figueras (3) of St. Regis close behind
Juan Bollini (2) keeps possession of the ball with teammate Melissa Ganzi (1) and Nacho Figueras (3) of St. Regis close behind

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts (Nacho Figueras, Nic Roldan, Brandon Phillips), Audi (Facundo Pieres, Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini) and Piaget (Gonzalito Pieres, Marc Ganzi, Kris Kampsen) competed in the three-team, round robin tournament on the final stop on the 2013 World Polo Tour circuit.

The elite pro field added to the high-end event which one day could rival the annual St. Moritz Polo World Cup and become one of the hottest social events in Aspen, the only American city to host a snow polo tournament.

Several local community and media members, sponsors and players called snow polo and Aspen a good fit.

“This is the best snow polo in America,” Kampsen said. “The teams are excellent. There’s never been a level this high as far as competition is concerned.

“It was extremely competitive,” Kampsen said. “Conditions weren’t ideal. They had the field perfect on Thursday but then it snowed quite a bit which slowed the field down.”

In the opening game, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Polo Team defeated Piaget, 2-0, behind goals from Figueras and Phillips.

In the second game, Audi defeated Piaget, 2-1, with two goals from Melissa Ganzi, who scored the first goal on her first touch of the game. Bollini took the throw-in and found Ganzi open for the goal. She scored the game’s winning goal on a penalty shot with 1:15 left to play to advance her team into the championship final. Marc Ganzi scored Piaget’s lone goal after hitting a nice shot across the arena and following it up with the score.

Phillips suffered a bloody split lip when smacked by a polo mallet during the final.

Melissa Ganzi and Figueras shared tournament leading scorer honors with two each; Phillips and Ganzi each had one goal.

“We had our chances; it became harder as the game went on,” said Melissa Ganzi, who turned in one of her best all-around games with several steals and scoring barrage. “It was really competitive today,” Ganzi continued. “Every team wanted to win and we really had strong players.”

“The biggest surprise was that it all happened and we were able to pull it off,” Ganzi said. “The weather actually made it more beautiful and what more could we ask for.”

Ganzi’s horse Open Quarzo, a 7-year-old Bay stallion, was named Best Playing Pony.

Polo fans seemed to enjoy the world-class snow polo from the opening two-chukker match. VIPs and sponsors watched from the heated VIP Tent while enjoying mountain fare from The St. Regis Aspen Resort, including the brand’s signature Afternoon Tea Service along with cocktails from Johnnie Walker Blue.

Melissa and Marc Ganzi of Aspen Valley Polo Club, sister club of Wellington, Fla.-based Grand Champions Polo Club, along with Nacho Figueras and Larry Boland, president of Piaget North America, hosted the two-day event.

“My husband has roots here in Aspen,” Melissa Ganzi said. “He attended Aspen Country Day School, raced skiing here and his parents live here year-round.

“We would like to take snow polo to another level, to make snow polo and the City of Aspen synonymous. We’re really fortunate that we have our wonderful local partners and our partners from Florida. We have invested in building our own infrastructure. We went the extra mile.”

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts was the official hospitality partner and Audi served as the official car.

Said Boland: “What other city in North America could compare to Aspen as far as snow polo is concerned? Aspen Mountain is the perfect backdrop for a snow polo event.”

The arena stadium was beautifully set up. The VIP tent featured alpine luxe furnishings and fine array of food from The St. Regis Aspen Hotel.

The playing surface was perfect with the help of the Aspen Skiing Company which layered artificial snow on top of the already 16 inches of fresh snow from the last two weeks. The man-made snow spread and rolled made for a quick-playing surface on Thursday for the stick-and-ball and practice chukker. However, snow flurries on Friday made the ball harder to maneuver in the snow because of the deep divots.

All proceeds benefit Sopris Therapy Services and Aspen Sister Cities.

Sopris Therapy Services is a non-profit organization that provides Equine Assisted Therapy and rehabilitation in a ranch-setting to children and adults with various disabilities.

Aspen Sister Cities’ mission is to share ideas and cultures through the international exchange of students and all proceeds benefit Sopris Therapy Services and Aspen Sister Cities. Both charities depend on community support.

SNOW POLO FAST FACTS
Snow polo was first introduced in 1985 at the resort town of St. Moritz, Switzerland and attracted several hundred spectators. In the U.S., snow polo is held exclusively in Aspen, Colorado. Snow polo is a modified version of 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 arena polo. Play consists of four seven-minute chukkers. The horses have special cleated shoes to provide better traction. The ball is larger and lighter and bright red for visibility on the snowy surface.

ASPEN VALLEY POLO CLUB
CONTACT INFORMATION: Phone: 970-710-1663 and email: aspenvalleypolo@bellsouth.net.

ABOUT THE CLUB: The nation’s newest private polo club still in its developing stages features a complete facility offering stick-and-ball field, club house, wooden horse polo pit, exercise track, indoor school, arena, pony hire, livery, coaches, stable and turn to hire and grooms accommodations.

Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

It’s Show Time at Piaget World Snow Polo Championship

Tight play between St. Regis Hotels and Resorts players Brandon Phillips and Nacho Figueras against Audi’s Melissa Ganzi and Juan Bollini. Photos by Gary Hubbell.

ASPEN, COLO. — Dec. 19, 2013 — After a brief practice session on Thursday, world-class polo players will get down to business Friday at the Piaget World Snow Polo Championship at Wagner Park in downtown Aspen.

Some of the world’s greatest polo players including Argentine brothers Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres, two of only six players in the world with the perfect 10-goal rating, will compete on the final stop on the 2013 calendar for the World Polo Tour.

Melissa and Marc Ganzi of Aspen Valley Polo Club, sister club of Wellington, Fla.-based Grand Champions Polo Club, along with Nacho Figueras and Larry Boland, president of Piaget North America, are hosting the polo extravaganza. St. Regis Hotels & Resorts is the official hospitality partner and Audi is the official car.

“This has been a great event for many years,” said organizer Marc Ganzi, who grew up in Aspen. “But it’s an event we felt that had more potential with the opportunity to bring some of the best players in the world and bring great horses from Wellington (Fla.) up here. To create a great venue with great partners has never been done before.

“I think America needed a really high-end competitive snow polo event and I think we have done that here,” Ganzi said.

On Thursday, players and horses got a chance to practice and acclimate on the snowy surface and prepare for Friday’s three-team round robin tournament. They also enjoyed a St. Regis brunch, talking with media members from around the world and sharing good times with friends, family VIPs and sponsors in the VIP Pavilion before getting down to business.

Team roster lineups for the championship are:

Audi: Facundo Pieres, Melissa Ganzi, Juan Bollini.

Piaget: Gonzalito Pieres, Marc Ganzi, Kris Kampsen.

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts: Nacho Figueras, Nic Roldan, Brandon Phillips, an all-pro team.

“I think people in Aspen will enjoy polo very much and will get to love it as much as we all do,” said Figueras, the sport’s ambassador and face of Ralph Lauren. “Marc and Melissa Ganzi have been talking the last few years about taking this tournament to the next level and we think that this year we have.

Melissa Ganzi of Audi practicing with her teammatesjavascript:;
Melissa Ganzi of Audi practicing with her teammates

“Marc and Melissa have been supportive of polo all over America and they have done a great job in Wellington and I think Aspen is their next step,” Figueras said.

It will be a full schedule of activities on Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. After the national anthem by Jeannie Walla, a singer and teacher at the Theatre Aspen’s After School Program, and flag presentation, the much-anticipated tournament gets under way.

In the opening game, Piaget plays St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Polo Team followed by Audi against the loser of the Piaget-St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Polo Team game and Audi will then play the winner of the Piaget-St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Polo Team game.

The awards ceremony and team presentations will follow along with a lavish VIP After Party.

PoloLine TV will live stream Friday’s championship.

Polo fans will be able to relax and watch world-class snow polo from the heated VIP Pavilion while enjoying mountain fare from the St. Regis Aspen Resort, including the brand’s signature Afternoon Tea Service along with cocktails from Johnnie Walker Blue.

Tickets are available through Ticket Leap (www.ticketleap.com). A one-day pass for the VIP tent is $150.

The VIP Pavilion ticket includes full access, lunch courtesy of The St. Regis Aspen Resort and cocktails provided by Johnnie Walker’s mixologist.

General admission is free to the public and will be first-come, first-serve bleacher seating on the east side of the park.

All proceeds benefit Sopris Therapy Services and Aspen Sister Cities.

Sopris Therapy Services is a non-profit organization that provides Equine Assisted Therapy and rehabilitation in a ranch-setting to children and adults with various disabilities.

Aspen Sister Cities’ mission is to share ideas and cultures through the international exchange of students and all proceeds benefit Sopris Therapy Services and Aspen Sister Cities. Both charities depend on community support.

SNOW POLO FAST FACTS
Snow polo was first introduced in 1985 at the resort town of St. Moritz, Switzerland and attracted several hundred spectators. In the U.S., snow polo is held exclusively in Aspen, Colorado. Snow polo is a modified version of 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 arena polo. Play consists of four seven-minute chukkers. The horses have special cleated shoes to provide better traction. The ball is larger and lighter and bright red for visibility on the snowy surface.

ASPEN VALLEY POLO CLUB
CONTACT INFORMATION: Phone: 970-710-1663 and email: aspenvalleypolo@bellsouth.net.

ABOUT THE CLUB: The nation’s newest private polo club still in its developing stages features a complete facility offering stick-and-ball field, club house, wooden horse polo pit, exercise track, indoor school, arena, pony hire, livery, coaches, stable and turn to hire and grooms accommodations.

Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

World-Class Players Kick Off Piaget World Snow Polo Championship with Practice Chukkers

Tight action in an arena format makes snow polo exciting.

ASPEN, COLO. — Dec. 18, 2013 — World-class polo takes center stage beginning Thursday at the Piaget World Snow Polo Championship at Wagner Park in downtown Aspen.

Some of the world’s greatest polo players including Argentine brothers Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres, two of only six players in the world with the perfect 10-goal rating, will compete on the final stop on the 2013 calendar for the World Polo Tour.

Melissa and Marc Ganzi of Aspen Valley Polo Club, sister club of Wellington, Fla.-based Grand Champions Polo Club, along with Nacho Figueras and Larry Boland, president of Piaget North America, are hosting the polo extravaganza. St. Regis Hotels & Resorts is the official hospitality partner and Audi is the official car.

“There will be more than 50 players here,” said Marc Ganzi. “This town has never seen this level of competitors. There will be a different feel to the venue and the level of horses and players. We are trying to do something that’s never been done before.”

Before getting their game-faces on, players gathered Wednesday night to meet local media, VIPs and sponsors during an hour-long meet-and-greet, press conference and team introductions at the elegant St. Regis Aspen Resort.

A breath-taking view of the Piaget World Snow Polo Championship
A breath-taking view of the Piaget World Snow Polo Championship

On Thursday, a media day, St. Regis brunch and polo practice chukkers are scheduled. The practice, set for 1-2:15 p.m., will enable players and horses to acclimate to the weather and snowy playing surface before they get down to business on Friday with a round-robin tournament featuring high-goal teams Audi, Piaget and St. Regis Hotels & Resorts.

Ranked second in the world, Facundo Pieres will captain the Audi Polo Team and will be joined by teammates Juan Bollini and Melissa Ganzi, one of only two women in the nation on high-goal rated polo teams during the winter season in Wellington.

Facundo Pieres is coming off an outstanding year that includes playing for winning teams in the U.S. Open, Queens Cup, British Open and Gold and Silver Cups in Spain. He was ranked No. 1 in the world for most of the year.

Gonzalito Pieres will head the Piaget Polo Team and will be joined by Kris Kampsen and Marc Ganzi, one of the world’s top amateurs ranked 45th in the player rankings.

Gonzalito Pieres is ranked sixth in the world. He was a member of Audi’s 2009 U.S. Open and C. V. Whitney winning teams and 2011 USPA Piaget Gold Cup.

Nacho Figueras will captain the St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Polo Team. His teammates are Nic Roldan and Brandon Phillips.

“The excitement has been building for this week’s Piaget World Snow Polo Championship,” said Roldan, a founding member of the Aspen Valley Polo Club and youngest player ever to win the U.S. Open at age 15.

“It’s another great way to promote polo to fans who haven’t watched it before and you have some of the greatest players out here.”

Roldan’s first snow polo tournament was in 2009. “Snow polo is such a fun event,” Roldan said. “Polo’s totally different on snow. It’s a close-in game, more sticky, three on a side with a big red ball. And it’s great because the spectators are really involved when they can see the game slower, on a smaller field.”

Figueras, who serves as a St. Regis Connoisseur, is one of the sport’s most popular and well-recognized players in the world. He is the sport’s ambassadors and was named Sentebale Ambassador by Prince Harry.

“Polo is an innate part of the St. Regis legacy, and it is exciting to see how this social tradition manifests in Aspen among a new generation of global travelers and their families,” said Paul James, Global Brand Leader for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts.

“We are delighted to have Nacho Figueras captaining the St. Regis team for the first time here in Aspen. It is sure to be a thrilling day.”

The much-anticipated tournament action is Friday with three games scheduled.

At 11:40 a.m. Piaget will play St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Polo Team, 12:30 p.m. Audi will play the loser of the Piaget-St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Polo Team game, and at 1:15 p.m. Audi will play the winner of the Piaget-St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Polo Team game.

The awards ceremony is 2:15 p.m. followed by a lavish VIP After Party.

Polo fans will be able to relax and watch world-class snow polo from the heated VIP Pavilion while enjoying mountain fare from the St. Regis Aspen Resort, including the brand’s signature Afternoon Tea Service along with cocktails from Johnnie Walker Blue.

Tickets are available through Ticket Leap (www.ticketleap.com). A one-day pass for the VIP tent is $150.

The VIP Pavilion ticket includes full access, lunch courtesy of The St. Regis Aspen Resort and cocktails provided by Johnnie Walker’s mixologist.

General admission is free to the public and will be first-come, first-serve bleacher seating on the east side of the park.

PoloLine TV will live stream both the practice chukkers on Thursday and championship tournament on Friday.

All proceeds benefit Sopris Therapy Services and Aspen Sister Cities.

Sopris Therapy Services is a non-profit organization that provides Equine Assisted Therapy and rehabilitation in a ranch-setting to children and adults with various disabilities.

Aspen Sister Cities’ mission is to share ideas and cultures through the international exchange of students and all proceeds benefit Sopris Therapy Services and Aspen Sister Cities. Both charities depend on community support.

SNOW POLO FAST FACTS
Snow polo was first introduced in 1985 at the resort town of St. Moritz, Switzerland and attracted several hundred spectators. In the U.S., snow polo is held exclusively in Aspen, Colorado. Snow polo is a modified version of 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 arena polo. Play consists of four seven-minute chukkers. The horses have special cleated shoes to provide better traction. The ball is larger and lighter and bright red for visibility on the snowy surface.

ASPEN VALLEY POLO CLUB
CONTACT INFORMATION: Phone: 970-710-1663 and email: aspenvalleypolo@bellsouth.net.

ABOUT THE CLUB: The nation’s newest private polo club still in its developing stages features a complete facility offering stick-and-ball field, club house, wooden horse polo pit, exercise track, indoor school, arena, pony hire, livery, coaches, stable and turn to hire and grooms accommodations.

Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

Local Charities Biggest Winners at Dec. 19-20 Piaget World Snow Polo Championship

Snow Polo returns to downtown Aspen.

ASPEN, CO. — Dec. 17, 2013 — Sopris Therapy Services, a Colorado-based non-profit serving children and adults with daily challenges since 1994, has been designated as one of the charities for the Dec. 19-20 Piaget World Snow Polo Championship at Wagner Park.

Pat Horwitz, executive director of Sopris Therapy Services, said the organization depends on community support to help empower children, adults and wounded veterans with disabilities to reach their full potential through equine assisted therapies.

“When we started out we found that we could combine physical therapy and horses,” Horwitz said. “It has been done in other parts of the country. We studied and worked with other organizations and decided to start Sopris Therapy.

“I get tears in my eyes every day,” Horwitz said. “I can’t believe the progress that’s made with the connection between the horses and children. It’s about the movement of the horses creating a brain connection with the child or adult and stimulating the nerve endings. It helps with better movement with walking, balance and core strength. Equine movement is a treatment strategy and another way to get patients to move their body. People believe in what we do. We are very appreciative of the Ganzis for selecting us.”

Melissa and Marc Ganzi, owners of Aspen Valley Polo Club, sister club of their Wellington-based Grand Champions Polo Club, along with Nacho Figueras and Larry Boland, president of Piaget North America, are hosting the final stop on the World Polo Tour.

The much-anticipated snow polo event has attracted three of the biggest names in polo and two of only six players in the world with the perfect 10-goal rating.

The Dec. 20 championship will be a round-robin tournament format with three polo teams: Audi, Piaget and St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, where teams will compete for valuable World Polo Tour points in the final snow polo event of the year.

Ten-goaler Facundo Pieres will head the Audi Polo Team during the Dec. 20 tournament.
Ten-goaler Facundo Pieres will head the Audi Polo Team during the Dec. 20 tournament.

Ten-goaler Facundo Pieres, ranked second in the world, will captain the Audi Polo Team. Gonzalito Pieres, also a 10-goaler, will head the Piaget Polo Team and 6-goaler Nacho Figueras will captain the St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Polo Team.

Figueras, who serves as a St. Regis Connoisseur, is one of the sport’s most popular and well-recognized players in the world.

On Wednesday, a press conference and cocktail party will be held in The St. Regis Aspen Resort hotel lobby from 6-7 p.m. where team jerseys will be distributed to the players.

On Thursday, Dec. 19, media day and St. Regis brunch at Wagner Park will be held while polo practice chukkers are played to enable players and horses to acclimate to the weather and playing surface.

Friday tournament action gets underway. At 11:40 a.m. Piaget will play St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Polo Team; 12:30 p.m. Audi will play the loser of the Piaget-St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Polo Team game and at 1:15 p.m. Audi will play the winner of the Piaget-St. Regis Hotels & Resorts Polo Team game.

The awards ceremony is 2:15 p.m. followed by the lavish VIP Tent After Party.

Polo fans can relax and watch world-class snow polo from the VIP Pavilion while enjoying mountain fare from the St. Regis Aspen Resort, including the brand’s signature Afternoon Tea Service along with cocktails from Johnnie Walker Blue.

Tickets are available through Ticket Leap (www.ticketleap.com). A one-day pass for the VIP tent is $150.

The VIP Pavilion ticket includes full access to the heated tent, lunch courtesy of The St. Regis Aspen Resort and cocktails provided by Johnnie Walker’s mixologist.

General admission is free to the public and will be first-come, first-served bleacher seating on the east side of the park.

ASPEN VALLEY POLO CLUB

CONTACT INFORMATION: Phone: 970-710-1663 and email: aspenvalleypolo@bellsouth.net.

ABOUT THE CLUB: The nation’s newest private polo club still in its developing stages features a complete facility offering stick-and-ball field, club house, wooden horse polo pit, exercise track, indoor school, arena, pony hire, livery, coaches, stable and turn to hire and grooms accommodations.

Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com

World-Class Players, Team Sponsors Announced for Piaget World Snow Polo Championship

Snow polo returns to downtown Aspen.

ASPEN, CO. — Dec. 13, 2013 — Some of the world’s greatest polo players will converge on Wagner Park, the crown jewel of Aspen, for the Dec. 19-20 Piaget World Snow Polo Championship.

Melissa and Marc Ganzi of Aspen Valley Polo Club, sister club of Wellington, Fla.-based Grand Champions Polo Club, along with Nacho Figueras and Larry Boland, president of Piaget North America, are hosting the final stop on the World Polo Tour.

The Dec. 20 championship will be a round-robin tournament format with three polo teams: Audi, Piaget and St. Regis.

The event has attracted three of the biggest names in polo and two of only six players in the world with the perfect 10-goal rating.

Ten-goaler Facundo Pieres, ranked second in the world, will captain the Audi Polo Team. His older brother, Gonzalito Pieres, also a 10-goaler, will head the Piaget Polo Team and 6-goaler Figueras will captain the St. Regis Polo Team.

Facundo Pieres is coming off an outstanding year that includes playing for winning teams in the U.S. Open, Queens Cup, British Open and Gold and Silver Cups in Spain. He was ranked No. 1 in the world for most of the year.

Facundo’s older brother, Gonzalito Pieres, is ranked sixth in the world. Pieres was a member of Audi’s 2009 U.S. Open and C. V. Whitney winning teams and 2011 USPA Piaget Gold Cup.

Gonzalito Pieres will captain the Piaget Polo Team in the Dec. 19-20 Piaget World Snow Polo Championship.
Gonzalito Pieres will captain the Piaget Polo Team in the Dec. 19-20 Piaget World Snow Polo Championship.

Both brothers are members of the legendary Pieres family headed by their father and polo legend Gonzalo Pieres Sr.

Figueras, polo’s international ambassador and face of Ralph Lauren, is one of the sport’s most popular and well-recognized players in the world. The Argentine polo player was named Sentebale Ambassador by Prince Harry and also serves as St. Regis Connoisseur.

Other players on the team rosters include Melissa Ganzi, one of only two women player patrons in high goal polo in the nation; her husband, Mark Ganzi, one of the world’s top amateur players ranked in the Top 50 among high goal players; 8-goal rated player Nic Roldan; and 5-goalers Juan Bollini and Brandon Phillips.

Players will be competing for valuable World Polo Tour points in the final snow polo event of the year.

On Thursday, Dec. 19, polo practice chukkers will be held to enable players and horses to acclimate to the weather and playing surface. Friday tournament action will be held 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Games begin 12:30 p.m. each day. Gates open 11 a.m.

Polo fans can relax and watch world-class snow polo from the VIP Pavilion while enjoying mountain fare from the St. Regis Hotel along with cocktails from Johnnie Walker Blue.

Tickets are available through Ticket Leap (www.ticketleap.com). A one-day pass for the VIP tent is $150. General admission is free to the public and will be first-come, first-serve bleacher seating on the east side of the park.

VIP Pavilion access includes full access to the heated tent, lunch courtesy of St. Regis and cocktails provided by Johnnie Walker’s mixologist.

All proceeds benefit Sopris Therapy Services and Aspen Sister Cities.

Sopris Therapy Services is a non-profit organization that provides Equine Assisted Therapy and rehabilitation in a ranch-setting to children and adults with various disabilities.

Aspen Sister Cities’ mission is to share ideas and cultures through the international exchange of students and community members from Aspen and its respective sister cities.

ASPEN VALLEY POLO CLUB

CONTACT INFORMATION: Phone: 970-710-1663 and email: aspenvalleypolo@bellsouth.net.

ABOUT THE CLUB: The nation’s newest private polo club still in its’ developing stages features a complete facility offering stick-and-ball field, club house, wooden horse polo pit, exercise track, indoor school, arena, pony hire, livery, coaches, stable and turn to hire and grooms accommodations.

Sharon Robb for Phelps Media Group, Inc. International

MEDIA CONTACT:
Phelps Media Group, Inc.
12230 Forest Hill Blvd.
Suite 214
Wellington, FL 33414
561-753-3389 (phone)
561-753-3386 (fax)
pmginfo@phelpsmediagroup.com
www.phelpsmediagroup.com