Team Sponsors, Rosters Announced For St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship
ASPEN, Colo., December 13, 2023—A Who’s Who in polo led by 10-goalers Adolfo Cambiaso and Juan Martin Nero, will compete in the much-anticipated 11th annual St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship this week.
By Sharon Robb
One of the world’s top snow polo tournaments and only snow polo tournament held in North America, will feature six teams competing for the coveted winner’s trophy on the final stop of the World Polo Tour.
Team sponsors and rosters are:
Aspen Valley (17): Marc Ganzi, 1, Jason Crowder, 6, Adolfo Cambiaso, 10.
Blade & Bow (18): Scott Wood, 2, Pablo Spinacci, 6, Juan Martin Nero, 10.
Casablanca (17): Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 5, Nic Roldan, 9.
Edmiston (16): Teo Calle, 1, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7, Pancho Bensadon, 8.
NetJets (16): Ricky Cooper, 3, Pete Webb, 6, Sugar Erskine, 7.
St. Regis (14): Santos Bollini, 2, Nacho Figueras, 6, Juan Bollini, 6.
Cambiaso, rated 10 goals in the U.S., Argentina and United Kingdom, is making his snow polo debut in the U.S. Cambiaso and Nero, teammates on La Dolfina Saudi, are coming off the 130th Argentine Open.
The sport’s ambassador and St. Regis Connoisseur Nacho Figueras returns as captain of the St. Regis polo team. Figueras has played a role in the snow polo event’s growth and development.
For the eleventh consecutive year, Aspen Valley Polo Club owners Melissa and Marc Ganzi will host the world-class event in a holiday setting against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains, kicking off the holiday social season in Aspen. The tournament has joined St. Moritz as one of the world’s top snow polo tournaments and one of Aspen’s major international sporting events.
The festivities begin Thursday with the draw party and traditional champagne sabering at the St. Regis. The ritual dates back to 1904 when hotel founder John Jacob Astor IV would nightly have a bottle sabered on-property to celebrate the transition from day to night. Astor was inspired by the glamour of sabrage, an act which had been made famous by Napoleon Bonaparte, who opened champagne with his saber in both victory and defeat.
Preliminary qualifying round robin games are Friday at Aspen Valley Polo Club’s state-of-the-art indoor arena beginning at 1:30 p.m .
Action moves to Rio Grande Park on Saturday where the High Alpine Cup, a playoff for fifth and sixth place at 1:15 p.m., inaugural Potamkin Charity Chukker at 2:30 p.m. and Celebrity Polo Match, highlighted by actor Sterling Jones, at 3:15 p.m. will be held.
The Potamkin Charity Chukker is in honor of beloved Aspen resident Robert Potamkin, the father of Melissa Ganzi, who passed away recently. The philanthropist and automotive magnate had an indomitable spirit and passion for community. His legacy goes beyond his business achievements.
Each goal scored in the Potamkin Charity Chukker will make a donation to charity. The Potamkin Yellow team will earn money for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation and Potamkin Black team will earn money for the Calloway Young Cancer Center.
On Sunday the championship final is 1 p.m. and Aspen Cup at 3 p.m. followed by the awards ceremony.
VIP tickets can still be purchased for the event. Ticket information can be found at aspenvalleypoloclub.com. The games are free for spectators standing around the arena fencing. The event is a fundraiser for the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. Donations are welcome.
2023 St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship – Schedule
Thursday 12/14 7 p.m.
Team draw at St. Regis Aspen Resort
Friday 12/15
1:30 p.m. & 3 p.m. Preliminary Games
at Aspen Valley Polo Club
Saturday 12/16
12 p.m. VIP tent opens
1:15 p.m. High Alpine Cup Final
2:30 p.m. The Potamkin Charity Chukker
3:15 p.m. Celebrity Polo Match
4:30 p.m. VIP tent closes
at Rio Grande Park
Sunday 12/17
12 p.m. VIP tent opens
1 p.m. Championship Final
3 p.m. Aspen Cup Final
at Rio Grande Park
