There were a number of well-known applicants from Europe and overseas for one of the four team slots available at the Snow Polo World Cup 2016. In the end, the tournament management, headed by founder Reto Gaudenzi, invited Spencer Mccarthy (England), Rommy Gianni (Italy), Richard Fagan (Ireland), and Cedric Schweri (Switzerland) to the tournament. The four captains will now set about to put together a high-goal team each. The four-times St. Moritz winners Nacho Gonzalez (GBR) and Chris Hyde (GBR) have already been announced as part of the English team. Hyde has previously won the St. Moritz tournament five times; he is currently regarded as the world’s best snow polo player.
World-class polo against the magnificent mountain backdrop of the Engadin is set on the agenda for the last weekend in January. St. Moritz is the birthplace of snow polo: the world’s first ever polo tournament on snow took place on the frozen lake here 32 years ago. The three tournament days will see excellent polo being played and a series of social events taking place on the lake as well as in St. Moritz’s first-class hotels. Once again, well over 20’000 spectators are expected.
«Year and again, our guests delight in the special ambience on the frozen lake set amidst one of the most beautiful mountain sceneries in the world,» Reto Gaudenzi, founder and CEO of Evviva Polo St. Moritz Ltd, enthuses. «No place in the world better encapsulates the combination of true hospitality, luxury, and authentic, Alpine lifestyle. It is a meeting place for locals and visitors, polo fans, winter sports enthusiasts and those who just came to enjoy life.»
Sportsmen will agree on the singular standing of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz: polo on snow is not played at such a high level anywhere else in the world. As such, St. Moritz has become a fixture in the calendar for many world-class players and polo fans from all corners of the world. Some 100 polo ponies are brought to St. Moritz ahead of the tournament so that they can get accustomed to the snow and the climate. As always, entry to the St. Moritz Snow Polo World Cup is free—including access to the stands. Local chefs superintended by Badrutt’s Palace Hotel will present a vast array of culinary specialties to the public. The guests in the VIP area will enjoy the treats of star chef Reto Mathis.
VIP tickets can be purchased in advance under www.ticketcorner.ch; the number of tickets is limited.
Sponsors and partners of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2016
St. Moritz welcomes Maserati among the sponsors of the Snow Polo World Cup. The Italian premium brand joins the league of Cartier, Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Deutsche Bank, and La Martina, who are renewing their commitments as team sponsors, gold sponsor and official outfitter respectively.
Team sponsors: Cartier, Maserati, Badrutt’s Palace Hotel Gold-Sponsor Deutsche Bank
Sponsors: Lufthansa, Bombardier, Trois Pommes, Perrier-Jouët, Confiserie Sprüngli, Heineken, Dorchester Collection, Brioni, Kasperskian
Official outfitter: La Martina
Offizielle Airline: Lufthansa
Supporters: City of St. Moritz, Destination Engadin St. Moritz, See-Infra AG, Klinik Gut, Oscar Christoffel AG, Ender Sport, Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz
Trophy sponsors: Cartier, La Martina, Bombardier, Dorchester Collection
Partner hotels: Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, Kempinski Grand Hôtel des Bains, Carlton Hotel, Hotel Laudinella, Hotel Crystal, Hotel Sonne, Hotel Corvatsch Official
Suppliers: Confiserie Sprüngli, Perrier-Jouët, Pernod Ricard, Heineken, Nespresso, Kasperskian, Cigar Must, Valser
Media Partners: PoloLine, Polo Times, The Polo Magazine, Polo +10, Equestrio
Snow polo and Evviva Polo St. Moritz Ltd
The first time a polo competition took place on snow was in St. Moritz in 1985. Ever since, the Snow Polo World Cup has reigned over the last weekend in January in St. Moritz. In 2014, well-known exponents of snow polo in Switzerland founded Evviva Polo St. Moritz Ltd and signed a long-term contract with the city of St. Moritz, thus securing a sustained continuation of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz. The Board of Directors consists of Dr. Piero Dillier (President), Reto Gaudenzi (Vice-president and CEO), and Arndt Küchel. Dr. Thomas Rinderknecht and Peter Blum are on the Advisory Board; Jürg Reinger is the Managing Director.
Media Office of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz:
Christian Gartmann
+41 79 305 75 00
media@snowpolo-stmoritz.com
Evviva Polo St. Moritz AG
Reto Gaudenzi
+41 79 774 38 27
reto.gaudenzi@snowpolo-stmoritz.com
Jürg Reinger
+41 79 402 92 75
juerg.reinger@snowpolo-stmoritz.com