PIAGET WORLD SNOW POLO CHAMPIONSHIP DEBUTS IN ASPEN
Ellerstina Piaget’s Top Ranked Facundo and Gonzalito Pieres Compete
Considered to be one of the world’s most glamorous winter destinations, Aspen was the setting for the Piaget World Snow Polo Championship, held on the snow packed field of Wagner Park. Top-ranked Argentine polo players Facundo Pieres and Gonzalito Pieres of the Piaget Ellerstina Polo team, and polo’s most famous face, Nacho Figueras, joined America’s top-ranked player, Nic Roldan, along with hosts and co-founders of the Aspen Valley Polo Club, Marc and Melissa Ganzi and Larry Boland, President of Piaget North America, to host the round robin tournament. Piaget was also the official timekeeper of the tournament.
At the foot of Aspen Mountain with the snow falling, the Piaget team, featuring Gonazlito Pieres, Marc Ganzi and Kris Kampsen, took to Wagner Park to compete against the St. Regis team featuring Nacho Figueras, Nic Roldan, and Brandon Phillips. Excitement was in the air, as the two teams battled it out, with Phillips and Figueras each scoring a goal to deliver a 2-0 win for St. Regis.
Following their defeat, Piaget re-entered the field determined to beat the Audi team consisting of Facundo Pieres, Melissa Ganzi and Juan Bollini. Melissa Ganzi bolted into action, quickly scoring for Audi in the first thirty seconds putting the team ahead 1-0 in the first chukker. In the second chukker, Marc Ganzi scored for Piaget to even the score at 1-1. The crowd was silent as they watched brother vs. brother and husband vs. wife. Ultimately, Melissa Ganzi brought Audi to a 2-1 victory, as she scored the final goal through a penalty shot in the end of the second chukker.
The final match saw St. Regis and Audi locked in a stalemate with neither team scoring in the first chukker. Facundo Pieres took a penalty shot in the second chukker that was blocked by a confident Figueras, standing in the saddle, as the crowd cheered. Figueras then went on to score the final goal, bringing the black St. Regis team to victory.
Inside the VIP tent, Piaget hosted a lounge for Aspen’s best and brightest to enjoy the polo action. On display were the newest Piaget Polo FortyFive timepieces, along with framed photos showing Piaget’s long history with the sport of kings.
Following the match, Larry Boland presented the special silver and horn trophy to the winning St. Regis team. “We are proud to be presenting the Piaget World Snow Polo Championship here in Aspen and thrilled to have both Gonzalito and Facundo Pieres with us. It was an exciting day of polo in one of the most picturesque settings in America,†stated Boland.
Marc Ganzi, added “It has always been a dream of mine and my wife Melissa’s to create a polo club in Aspen. We are honored to have Piaget as the official timekeeper and to help us kick off a new era in snow polo.â€
In addition to the Piaget World Snow Polo World Championship, Piaget is the title sponsor of the USPA Piaget Gold Cup and the Piaget Hamptons Cup.