The World Snow Polo Championship begins Saturday and Sunday Dec. 17-18 at Rio Grande Park in Aspen. The U.S. Polo Association-sanctioned tournament is in its sixth year and is coordinated by Stout Ranch/Roaring Fork Polo Club owner and event director Barry Stout.
Four teams of local and international polo players are competing in the two-day elimination format for the championship crown; L’Hostaria, Landrover/Volvo, Gorsuch and Centre of the Rockies. Chase Manhattan earned the 2004 crown, defeating L’Hostaria 5-4.
Snow polo’s three-man teams play four chukkers on a smaller-sized field and use a red ball much larger than a regulation polo ball. Fields are groomed between chukkers with a metal grate that smoothes gaping holes left by hoofprints. Custom-cleated horse shoes prevent slipping.
Snow polo originated in St. Moritz and has enjoyed increasing popularity in Aspen since the 1990s.
For more information, visit www.worldsnowpolo.com. –- Diane Hensley
