The much-anticipated summer polo season at Aspen Valley Polo Club opens with the Independence Cup and ChukkerTV Challenge Cup.
By Sharon Robb
The 11th season kicks off with the club’s traditional tournaments. After a break, world-class horses and players are chomping at the bit to return to the well-manicured polo fields.
The fun begins Friday with two preliminary games with the ChukkerTV Challenge Cup at McClure River Ranch Field Two. At 11 a.m., Maltese Falcons, 17 (Melissa Ganzi, Santi Toccalino, 7, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7, Juan Bollini, 3) plays Tonkawa, 15 (Fran Spinacci, 1, Sugar Erskine, 6, Pablo Spinacci, 5, Santos Bollini, 2/Jimmy Seward, 3) and 12:30 p.m. Casablanca, 18 (Marc Ganzi, 1, Grant Ganzi, 3, Nic Roldan, 8, Martin Jauregui, 6) takes on Santa Rita, 17, (Vinny Sangaline, 1, Jason Crowder, 5, Tomacho Pierfes, 6, Hilario Figueras, 5).
On Saturday, the final of the Independence Cup begins 10:15 a.m. at the AVPC Barn Field.
On Sunday, the ChukkerTV Challenge Cup final is 11 a.m. at McClure River Ranch Field One followed by the Just For The Love Of It at 12:30 p.m. and trophy presentation at 1:45 p.m.
Polo highlights the summer in the valley with 14 grass and arena tournaments in July and August. With the breath-taking 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop, some of the world’s top players are competing.
Season highlights include the August 18th Summer Polo Charity Classic, benefitting the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. Last year AVPC celebrated its tenth anniversary and enjoyed its best season, highlighted by the Summer Polo Charity Classic, benefitting the Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation. A sellout crowd of 1,200 enjoyed the food, music, polo, auction and vendors during a five-hour tripleheader. Since 2016, the event has netted $3.5 million for the hospital.
Other season highlights are the Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen and Silver Queen Invitational doubleheader, inaugural Twilight Polo Series and Aspen Arena Series Final.
Nestled in the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains, Aspen Valley Polo Club has become the summer destination for polo and top players from around the world.
Other summer tournaments are Craig Sakin Memorial, Basalt Handicap, Emma Challenge Cup, High Alpine Cup, Mount Sopris Cup, Rocky Mountain Open, Carbondale Classic and Maroon Bells Cup.
Last year’s Independence Cup winner was Victory Polo (Becky Schmeits, Grant Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) with a thrilling 4-3 win over Mountain Chevrolet (Riley Ganzi/Santos Bollini, Michael Payne, Nic Roldan, Jimmy Seward).
In the ChukkerTV Challenge Cup final, Santa Rita (Melissa Ganzi, Tito Gaudenzi, 2, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7, Juan Bollini, 3) defeated Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Jimmy Seward, 3, Tomacho Pieres, 6, Martin Jauregui, 6), 9-7.
The family-friendly club on 15 acres of pristine land welcomes spectators of all ages. All matches, food and refreshments are free (with the exception of special catered events) and open to the public.
Unlike any other summer polo destination in the world, the local culture offers shops, incredible culinary scene, art, music and nightlife in addition to hiking trails, mountain biking, river rafting, golf and fly fishing.
If you can’t make it to the games in person, Wellington, Fla.-based ChukkerTV (CTV sports) will live stream the entire 2024 polo summer season Mountain Standard Time with announcer Dale Schwetz calling the action. Aspen Valley Polo Club is the only USPA club to live stream its entire summer schedule.
With a vision for the community, Marc and Melissa Ganzi resurrected the club and polo in 2014. Since then 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 Wheelie Polo, Gymkhana, Christmas In July, The Polo School at AVPC and Polo On Demand. In addition, the club offers practice sessions for teams competing in the club tournaments on more than six world-class fields. There are also indoor and outdoor polo arenas.
The Polo School is for all ages and ability levels and operates in Carbondale. For more information on tournaments or Polo School Director Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099 or club manager Cale Newman at 561-876-2930.
Aspen Valley Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its’ expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its’ Polo On Demand program.