Three firsts at the 35th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz
St. Moritz, 4. February 2019. The 35th Snow Polo World Cup, which was held from 25 to 27
January 2019, will go down in history as the tournament of firsts: It was the first-ever overall
victory for the team «Badrutt’s Palace». And, for the first time in the history of the
tournament, a female player, namely Melissa Ganzi from the USA, bagged the coveted
Cartier Trophy. The breathtaking performances of the «Sardhadchi» cavalry team were
another novelty. These artists on horseback from Azerbaijan, who appeared for the first time
in Switzerland, delighted the audience with their fast-paced acrobatic show. The 2019 event
on the frozen Lake St. Moritz saw a turnout of some 18,000 spectators, more than ever
before. Sponsors and partners showed a firm commitment, and demand for VIP, Chukker
Club and gala night tickets was unusually strong. With a tournament budget of CHF 2.5
million coupled with the favourable circumstances, the organisers estimate to have
generated an economic benefit for the region of some CHF 12 million, which is a significant
year-on-year increase. Next year, the Snow Polo World Cup will take place from 24 to 26
January 2020.
This year’s tournament was not only a first-rate event on the polo field – with some of the world’s
best polo players, such as 10-goaler Juan Martin Nero, competing on the frozen Lake St. Moritz –
but also aside from the playing field. Over the three days, more than 18,000 spectators flocked to
the frozen lake to watch the teams play. More than 200 journalists, photographers and camera
teams from around the world attended. The demand for VIP and Chukker Club tickets was
unusually high on all three days. Saturday’s tickets for both the VIP tent and the «Baku St. Moritz
Gala» at the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel were sold out.
The «Sardadchi» cavalry team from Azerbaijan captivated the audience on each of the three days
of the tournament. The 12-strong troupe on their noble Karabakh horses have appeared regularly
at top-notch international events since their first show in 2012. Notably, they performed their
mesmerising «Land of Fire Azerbaijan» show at the birthday celebration for Queen Elizabeth II.
Two thousand eight hundred sushi rolls were served in the VIP tent over the three days of the
tournament by the official caterer of the Snow Polo World Cup St Moritz, the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel,
who also uncorked some 500 bottles of red wine and an equal amount of white wine. Zwyer Caviar
served 15 kilograms of first-rate caviar. Champagne flowed both in the VIP tent and the Polo Village
– with more than 2,000 bottles of Perrier-Jouët consumed – and some 115 litres of Royal Salute
whisky were poured.
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La Martina’s founder Lando Simonetti won the «Baku Moritz Polo Award 2019.»
At the gala night at the Badrutt’s Palace hotel on Saturday evening, the «Baku Moritz Polo Award»,
that recognises outstanding achievements in the field of polo sports, was awarded for the second
time. This year’s award went to Lando Simonetti, founder and owner of the La Martina brand. Since
its creation in 1985, La Martina has been supporting the sport of polo and propagating its values.
The company, having started in boots and saddles, soon expanded;; it created a lifestyle collection
and advanced its technological prowess. Today, La Martina warrants the quality required in this
demanding sport.
Reto Gaudenzi, founder of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz and president of World Polo PLC,
together with Elchin Guliyev, president of the Azerbaijani equestrian sports federation, Dr Piero
Dillier, vice-president of the Federation of International Polo FIP, Birgit Hügli-Hermann, publisher-
cum-owner of the Polo & Luxury magazine and the lady who initiated the award, as well as Richard
Leuenberger, managing director of the Badrutt’s Palace hotel sit on the judging committee that
picks the award winner.
Excellent conditions for the tournament on all three days
The organisers of the tournament jointly with some 100 volunteers once again managed to prepare
an exceptionally well-groomed polo field. On the tournament weekend, the players and their ponies
could rely on a 250-strong team to cater for excellent conditions. Thus, they have contributed
significantly to turning the 35th edition of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz into a first-rate event
and the sporting and social highlight of the winter polo season once again.
[…]
A note to the members of the press
Media accreditation for the 2020 tournament is due to open as of late summer at www.snowpolo-stmoritz.com/media.
The results of the 35. Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz:
Friday, 25. January 2019
Cup Teams Results
The Royal Salute Trophy Azerbaijan Land of Fire vs. Cartier 5,5 - 5
President’s Cup Maserati vs. Badrutt’s Palace Hotel 6 - 5
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Saturday, 26. January 2019
Cup Teams Results
Maserati Cup Badrutt’s Palace vs. Azerbaijan LoF 7 - 3,5
Deutsche Bank Wealth Maserati vs. Cartier 7,5 - 6
Management Challenge
Sunday, 27. January 2019
Cup Teams Results
La Martina Cup Azerbaijan Land of Fire vs. Cartier 5 - 0
THE CARTIER TROPHY Badrutt’s Palace Hotel vs. Maserati 7 - 3
Snow Polo and Evviva Polo St. Moritz Ltd
The year 1985 saw the first ever polo competition on snow – it took place in St. Moritz. The Snow Polo World Cup has reigned over the last weekend in January in this mountain town ever since. 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 A. C. Blum are on the Advisory Board;; Jürg Reinger is the Managing Director. The tournament is organised in close collaboration with an experienced team of local hotels, businesses and experts, the town of St. Moritz and their See Infra Ltd. For more information, visit www.snowpolo-stmoritz.com.
Media Services Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz
Katja Grauwiler +41 79 684 88 53 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
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Sponsoren und Partner Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2019
Team Sponsors Cartier, Maserati, Badrutt’s Palace Hotel und Azerbaijan Land of Fire
Global Lead Partner Deutsche Bank Wealth Management
Official Outfitter La Martina
Trophy Sponsors Cartier, La Martina, Maserati, Deutsche Bank Wealth Management, Royal Salute
Helmet Sponsor NETJETS
Official Hotels Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz, Kempinski Grand Hôtel des Bains, Carlton Hotel, Suvretta House, Crystal Hotel, Steffani Hotel, Hotel Corvatsch, Hotel Laudinella, Hotel Sonne
Official Partner Hotel Schweizerhof
Hotel Zurich
Official Restaurants Chesa Veglia/Polo Bar, CHE CHA
Sponsors Maura Wasescha, NETJETS, Pernod Ricard Swiss, Slupinski-Furs, UBV Lanz AG, Sprüngli, Azerbaijan Land of Fire, Heineken, Trois Pommes
VIP Catering Badrutt’s Palace Hotel
Official Suppliers Perrier-Jouët, Zwyer, Cecchetto, Sprüngli, Heineken, Cigar Must
Official Travel Agencies Finass, Castle Premier Services, ASC
& Forwarding Partners
Official Airline Etihad Airways
Guest Resort Mauritius
Exhibitors Maura Wasescha , Azerbaijan Land of Fire, La Martina, Casino St. Moritz, NETJETS, Ender Sport St. Moritz, Alps & Meters, Royal Salute, cellcosmet
Public Catering Badrutt’s Palace Hotel & local partners
Official Medical Partner Klinik Gut St. Moritz
Supporter Engadin St. Moritz, Klinik Gut, Gemeinde St. Moritz, Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz, St. Moritz Tourismus, Ski Service Corvatsch, O. Christoffel AG, Blasto
Official Affiliated Club Polo Park & Country Club Zürich
TV Partner ENJY.TV
Official Snow Polo The Polo Magazine, Polo Times
Magazine Publisher
Media Partners The Polo Magazine, Good Style Magazine, Prestige Magazine, The Luxury Report, Connoisseur, Hola!, Polo Times, Polo & Luxury Country Life Magazine, Polo International, Swisshealth Magazine, Class Horse TV, Blush, Le Grand Mag, L’Officiel, La Bocha’, Polo Quarterly, H Fusion Media Group, SMAC
SNOW POLO WORLD CUP ST. MORITZ
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