26-27-28 JANUARY 2018 on the Frozen Lake of St
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FOTO: KATHRIN GRALLA, DER ROTE DRACHE ROTE DER GRALLA, KATHRIN FOTO: 26-27-28 JANUARY 2018 on the frozen lake of St. Moritz #snowpolo snowpolo-stmoritz.com snowpolostmoritz MagazinCover_160x235mm+3mm.indd 1 30.11.17 18:01 Heated competition Sub-zero temperatures Proud Global Lead Partner of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2019. deutschewealth.com Heated competition Deutsche Bank Wealth Sub-zero temperatures Management and the Proud Global Lead Partner of the Snow Polo “Sport of Kings”— World Cup St. Moritz 2019. a perfect match For the past 30 years, the global elite of polo has come together at the famous Swiss mountain resort of St. Moritz to put their skills to the test under most demanding conditions. For three days in a row, four teams of 16 players each are going to compete in a tournament that is also known as the “Wimbledon of polo”. 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Copyright 2018/2019 © Deutsche Bank AG and/or its affiliates and subsidiaries Reto Gaudenzi, VP of the Board and CEO, Dr Piero Dillier, President of the Board, with Arnd Küchel, Member of the Board of Evviva Polo St. Moritz AG WELCOME TO THE SNOW POLO WORLD CUP ST. MORITZ - THE 35TH EDITION! It is with immense pleasure and pride that we welcome you for the 35th time to St Moritz for the social and sporting highlight of the year! Our motto, tradition – class – hospitality – emotions, comes alive every year on the frozen lake and all over the city when top players with their horses and guests from all corners of the world come together for the original Snow Polo Event since 1985. We would like to say hearty thanks also to all our partners, some have been with us for many years. The longest lasting partnership we have with Cartier for an incredible 27 years! Those partners not only support the event financially and with their brand and reputation, but bring quality guests to the Top of the World. Again, this year we are very proud to have 4 world class Polo Teams competing, with Cartier, Maserati, Badrutt’s Palace Hotel and Azerbaijan Land of Fire, high class Polo and excitement are guaranteed. Besides Polo, the event will again present great entertainment and culinary delights, in the spectacular setting of the Engadin Valley May the best team bring home the trophy! Dr. Piero Dillier, Reto Gaudenzi, Arnd Küchel – the Board of Evviva Polo St. Moritz AG, Dr. Thomas Rinderknecht, Peter A.C. Blum, advisory Board Members SNOW POLO WORLD CUP ST. MORITZ 2019 3 WHERE GENERATIONS PLAY. SINCE 1896. Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Via Serlas 27, 7500 St. Moritz, Switzerland Telephone: +41 (0)81 837 1000, Fax: +41 (0)81 837 2999, Reservations: +41 (0)81 837 1100, [email protected], www.badruttspalace.com, @BadruttsPalace WHAT’S INSIDE… WELCOME 3 Introduction to this year’s Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz ©www.imagesofpolo.com 2018 REVIEW 6 A look back at the highlights from the RULES OF THE GAME 2018 Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 39 Pocket guide to the intricacies of polo SNOW POLO HISTORY PROGRAMME 14 St. Moritz, the cradle of snow polo 47 What’s happening and when ST. MORITZ HALL OF FAME ARTISTS 17 Celebrating the champions of the past 49 A look at this year’s entertainment 2018 WINNERS TEAM CARTIER THE UMPIRES 21 Q&A with Cartier Team Captain, 57 The three rule enforcers Rommy Gianni THE VOICE OF POLO BAKU MORITZ POLO AWARD 2019 59 Commentator Q&A 23 An award to recognise outstanding achievements in polo EVENT MAP 60 Know your way around this year’s event TEAM AZERBAIJAN 26 Bringing polo home TEAMS 63 The 2019 team line-ups TACK TALK 34 Understand the player and SPONSORS pony equipment 67 Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz supporters SNOW POLO WORLD CUP ST. MORITZ 2019 5 ©www.imagesofpolo.com, fotoswiss.com/Giancarlo cattaneo & Kathrin Gralla 6 SNOW POLO WORLD CUP ST. MORITZ 2019 2018 REVIEW SNOW POLO WORLD CUP ST. MORITZ 2019 7 8 SNOW POLO WORLD CUP ST. MORITZ 2019 2018’s three-day Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz spectacular was bigger and better than ever before. Spectators and players alike enjoyed the perfect combination of sunshine, socialising and Swiss hospitality, a truly magical experience for all involved. Snow, sun and a bevy of fur-clad spectators, with their eye permanently fixed on the snow-covered lake in the heart of Switzerland’s Engadin Valley – what more could you ask for? Each year, hordes of snow polo fans and followers head to this Alpine mecca to witness the winter season’s highlight, the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz. As The ‘Godfather of Snow Polo’ Reto Gaudenzi, the man responsible for introducing snow polo to the world and now CEO and organiser extraordinaire of the best snow polo tournament in the world put it, “God must be a polo player”. The ‘Man in the Sky’ had turned his barometer to ‘fair and dry for polo’ between 26 – 28 January as not only had the lake’s ice been frozen to the optimum depth, but the snow over the week before had been cool and substantial. During Friday and Saturday, it quickly became clear who the two strongest teams were going to be. Cartier and Maserati bounced through their initial matches against Badrutt’s Palace and Azerbaijan Land of Fire respectively, with unsurprising wins marking their dominance on the tournament rankings. But, if Cartier and Maserati had the leading poll positions, Azerbaijan Land of Fire had the spectators’ hearts. First time Snow Polo World Cup competitors, the boys in white from the Middle East/Europe border came to St. Moritz with not only their noble steeds, but three reserves, their own band, a fully SNOW POLO WORLD CUP ST. MORITZ 2019 9 10 SNOW POLO WORLD CUP ST. MORITZ 2019 functioning catering department rustling up Azeri treats for spectators on the sidelines and their own throng of spectators with musical instruments and loud singing voices. After two days of competitive action, it was Cartier and Maserati who faced each other in The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2018 Final. As the first ball fired into play, the tentative hush that had settled on the St. Moritz grandstand rallied into cries of elation as the Cartier boys thundered up and down the field, with Maserati close on their heels. Cartier may have led going into half-time, but this meant nothing in the Maserati camp as the players went into the third chukka with renewed vigour and fire in their bellies. Hissam Ali Hyder immediately took control of the ball, with Gerardo Mazzini and Robert Strom trailing in his wake. Cartier had been momentarily taken by surprise and with a piece of poetic play from Strom as he dribbled past not one, nor two, but three red shirts to goal, the Maserati crowd erupted as the scores read 3½-3 going into the final chukka. Chris Hyde exploded onto the field for the final big push, he perfected a penalty 4, putting his team ahead 4-3½. Maserati tried and tried to push forward into Cartier’s half and with 1.41 minutes left on the clock, it looked like they might convert one last attempt on goal. Tick, tick, tick…and it was all over. The crowd went wild as Rommy Gianni successfully retained the Snow Polo World Cup title for a third consecutive year and Chris ‘The Prof’ Hyde held high the trophy for his seventh win! SNOW POLO WORLD CUP ST. MORITZ 2019 11 Maximum Wellbeing What is luxury, if you don‘t have the time to enjoy it? Maura Wasescha Luxury means not having to be concerned with its practical matters, but to be able to enjoy the perfect moment in the company of family or friends. Totally free of worry, knowing that in the background there is a team who will fulfill all your wishes.