World-Class Players, Teams Announced For St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship |
| Some of the world’s top players, including Nic Roldan, Jeff Hall and Tommy Biddle will compete in the Dec. 17-19 St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship.
For the third consecutive year, Melissa and Marc Ganzi, co-founders of Aspen Valley Polo Club, along with Nacho Figueras, polo ambassador and St. Regis Connoisseur, will host the final stop on the World Polo Tour. Figueras 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.
Biddle, a former Team USA captain, is only the fourth player in the sport’s history rated at 10 goals in arena polo. Roldan is one of the top players in the world on any surface and is rated 9 goals in snow polo. Hall is another top-ranked American player at 8 goals. For the second consecutive year, the tournament has attracted six teams. The players will be introduced during the tournament draw Wednesday evening at The St. Regis Aspen Resort. The teams and ratings are: Audi Polo Team: (14) Ricky Cooper, 2; Marc Ganzi, 2; Tommy Biddle, 10. ChukkerTV: (12) Bernie Uechtritz, 1; Martin Pepa, 6; Mariano Gracida, 5. Flexjet: (14) Melissa Ganzi, A; Juan Bollini, 6; Jeff Hall, 8. One Sandy Lane: (12) Bash Kazi, 1; Brandon Phillips, 6; Martin Estrada, 5. St. Regis Polo Team: (13) Brian Boyd, 1; Nacho Figueras, 7; Carlitos Gracida, 5. US Polo Assn: (14) Grant Ganzi, 2; Juancito Bollini, 3; Nic Roldan, 9.
Roldan, Hall and Marc Ganzi were members of last year’s championship Piaget team. Returning sponsors Audi, Flexjet and US Polo Assn. along with new sponsors One Caribbean Estates and Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. join St. Regis Hotels & Resorts as major sponsors of North America’s only snow polo tournament. First round games, sponsored by La Patrona Polo & Equestrian Club, are Thursday 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. MST at Aspen Valley Polo Club Arena in Carbondale. On Friday and Saturday, the action moves to Rio Grande Park near downtown Aspen. On Friday, playoff games for fifth and sixth places are scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. On Saturday, fans will get the chance to meet the players at noon before the final and subsidiary games along with the trophy presentation are held 1-4 p.m. During Saturday’s action, 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.
The VIP Pavilion features full access to the heated tent, lunch courtesy of The St. Regis Aspen Resort and cocktails. ChukkerTV, worldwide leaders in polo broadcasting, will live stream the entire tournament. It is the first time the much-anticipated tournament will be live streamed in its entirety and exclusively by ChukkerTV. ChukkerTV, an independent media company based in Wellington, Fla. will capture the glitz, glamour and excitement of the three-day tournament. Entertaining polo announcers Toby Wayman and Dale Schwetz will provide play-by-play, colorful commentary and interviews. 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. For tickets and more information, go to www.worldsnowpolo.net.
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