Polo Lifestyles - Haiti September 2017

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HAITI POLO Lifestyles VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 1 / SEPTEMBER 2017

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11TH INTERNATIONAL POLO WORLD CUP

AMBASSADOR CLAUDE-ALIX BERTRAND AND THE HAITI POLO TEAM GEAR UP FOR MANIPUR, INDIA

THE AUDI SPORTSCAR EXPERIENCE A date with the track in a supercar FUNCTIONAL MUSCLE FITNESS Where champions train POLO WRIST LUXURY Vernet Paris

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VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 1 / SEPTEMBER 2017

HAITI POLO Lifestyles L’EQUIPE:

President/Executive Editor............ Claude-Alix Bertrand Editor/SVP Marketing............................Joshua Jakobitz Marketing Adviser.........................Kimberly J. Campbell Multi-Media Adviser............................. Daniel Hawkins Contributing writer: Mark Wine/Functional Muscle Fitness Photographers: Faith Brewer/Aspen Red Photography Reed Davis/Reed Davis Photography Carolynn Chamlee/Carolynn Chamlee Photography Will Johnston/Photography by Will Johnston Dominic James/Dominic James Photography Haiti Polo Lifestyles is a publication of Haiti Polo Team.

All rights reserved.

For information or to advertise, contact info@htpolo.com Hosted on www.issuu.com/haitipolo On the cover: Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand, Haiti Polo Team captain

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LE MAILLET DE POLO - SUMMER EDITION WWW.VERNETPARIS.COM

DOS BA NDER AS H A ND-M A DE CUSTOM A RGEN TI NE POLO EQU IPM EN T PR ESENTER OF THE HAITI POLO TEA M COLLECTION

VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 1 / SEPTEMBER 2017

DRIVING THE GAME FORWARD

MAKING PARTICIPATION IN POLO TOURNAMENTS IS MADE POSSIBLE

BY THE AUDI SPORTSCAR EXPERIENCE, DRIVING THE GAME OF POLO FORWARD FOR THE HAITI POLO TEAM SINCE 2014.

THE AUDI SPORTSCAR EXPERIENCE BRINGS DRIVERS ONTO A CLOSED COURSE TO EXPERIENCE SOME OF THE GREATEST CARS IN THE WORLD UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PROFESSIONAL COACHES. WWW.AUDIUSA.COM

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DRIVING THE GAME FORWARD

THE AUDI SPORTSCAR EXPERIENCE PROVIDES MOTORING ENTHUSIASTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAMPLE SOME OF AUDI’S FINEST MODELS ON THE SONOMA RACEWAY. Carved into the rolling hills of Sonoma County, it’s 2.5 miles of pristine asphalt and 12 twisty turns woven over the beautiful hills of Sonoma. It’s the same track used for NASCAR races.

Classroom time is interspersed throughout the day between paddock and track sessions. And while the instructors are focused on providing an enjoyable time for participants, they are also there to make sure you take home a lesson. Whether it be by instilling more confidence behind the wheel or a focus on planning ahead on the road, the team at the Audi Sportscar Experience is out to make safer drivers.

Drivers begin in the classroom for a brief discussion before each of the four “challenges.” Audi Sportscar Experience instructors briefly

discuss the four challenges and some basic car control theories. Within an hour, you’re out on the paddock and ready to apply the classroom knowledge behind the wheels of some amazing Audi machines.

CHALLENGE #1: SLALOM COURSE Before taking to the actual racetrack, the slalom course is the first challenge to conquer. The students take the TTS weaving through a series of cone-marked gates behind the track on the autocross course. Each student takes his/her turn, flying through the course at faster and faster speeds. The instructors use walkie-talkies to communicate to drivers, quickly and effectively, what they need to know before each turn.

CHALLENGE #2: TECHNIQUES OF A CURVE Applying the fundamentals from the classroom, including the importance of the proper driving path, brake application and steering through a 180-degree turn, it’s out to the autocross course. This is your first opportunity to pilot the gorgeous R8.

CHALLENGE #3: RS5 LAPS Back in the classroom, the instructors taught the 12 turns of the track, which includes four blind corners.

The course is often described as organic. While many tracks are engineered on flat land, Sonoma was built in the 60s and the terrain dictated the course. After thorough practice of these skills and learning more about the car and track, it’s time for the track, where a V8-powered RS5 awaits. The first lap is slow as the instructor coaches the crew skillfully by walkie-talkie, leading them around the winding curves of Sonoma Raceway. Subsequent laps increase the speed, always under the watchful eye of expert instructors.

CHALLENGE #4: R8 LAPS The R8 laps start the same way as the earlier sessions in the RS5…slowly. The low-riding suspension, powerful engine and road gripping all-wheel-drive system aids navigation around the track. Gradually increasing speed each time, and reaching top speed – a blistering 104 mph!

Official Outfitter of the Haiti Polo Team

CARIBBEAN APPAREL Unity. Culture. Pride

For more information www.haititourisme.gouv.ht

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VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 1 / SEPTEMBER 2017

THE ALLURE OF MANIPU In November, the 11th International Polo World Cup returns to Imphal Polo Grounds in Manipur, India, home of polo’s origins, where the British first learned the sport from the Hindu Kingdom native sportsmen.

The 2017 World Cup in Manipur will be the Haiti Polo Team’s first appearance there. Team captain, Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand, and his teammates are gearing up for their opportunity to demonstrate their skills on the field.

Bertrand and his teammates, who train in California, represent Bertrand’s native Haiti since 2014.

IMPHAL POLO GROUNDS ARE CONSIDERED THE OLDEST POLO GROUNDS KNOWN TO MANKIND, IN FACT, “MANIPUR GAVE THE WORLD THE GAME OF POLO” IS DISPLAYED ON THE SIDELINES OF THE IMPHAL POLO GROUNDS.

Mr. Inder Jit Singh of Tiger Paw Adventures India is named “liaison” to make arrangements for international teams and to further the image of the Manipur Cup on the global polo agenda. Mr. Singh’s adventure company will ensure that teams enjoy the natural beauty of the Indian sub continent.

The opens 22 November 2017 and will be played on traditional Manipuri ponies from the region. Traditional festivities will accompany the highly anticipated polo matches during the eight-day tournament. The Australian team will return to defend their 2016 title against other teams (confirmed at press time): Argentina and/or Argentina Army, Haiti, Morocco, and the United States. The Kenyan and England teams, who participated last year, were not confirmed at press time.

The Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association is active in protecting the Manipuri pony breed and also developing equestrian sports in polo’s homeland.

They also spearhead humanitarian missions such as collecting clean water for the flood victims of the record July 2017 flooding in the region.

For updates, visit the “Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association” page on Facebook.

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VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 1 / SEPTEMBER 2017

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2016 HIGHLIGHTS FROM MANIPUR

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POLO WRIST LUXURY

BY VERNET PARIS

The Vernet Paris “Bracelet de Maillet” mallet bracelet on your wrist is a mark of your passion, love and commitment to the sport of polo.

All Vernet products are hand-made in France, in the atelier in Paris. Vernet promises to deliver accessories that are completely authentic and refined.

The mallet design reflects the spirit of polo, and is the iconic accessory for polo: contemporary and modern, refined and elegant, while also appropriate for everyday wear.

Haiti Polo Team Captain and Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand’s (pictured above wearing Vernet Paris) favorite polo accessory is available in the material of your choice, rang-

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ing from plated gold, to our pure silver and gold collection. You can also choose your cord from dozens of colors, selecting the one that best matches your personality. Custom engraving put the finishing touch on your custom-made look.

Vernet Paris emerged from two loves: jewelry design and polo – passions

shared by designers Bianca Verneuil and Clement Gosset, who combined their family names to create their signature brand “Vernet”.

Bianca and Clement remain committed to continuously expanding and creating new products that capture and reflect the personality of polo, as well as other sports.

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Cheval Polo Stylish polo apparel Beverly Hills www.chevalpolo.com

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VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 1 / SEPTEMBER 2017

Rocky Mountain Polo Festival Combining music and polo, the Rocky Mountain Polo Festival featured some of the world’s top players, including Aldolfo Cambiaso, pictured at top with Claude-Alix Bertrand.

FO PH M O R OT RE OS

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VOLUME 1 / ISSUE 1 / SEPTEMBER 2017

FUNCTIONAL MUSCLE FIT

A MINDSET, A PHILOSOPHY, A DIFFEREN Training for the “Sport of Kings,” in the modern day game, does not simply mandate a mallet, a horse and a field. Training for polo means countless hours in the cage, on the field, in the arena and in the gym.

Although practicing the sport itself remains at the forefront of training, with each coach bringing their own training techniques and philosophies to their athletes, adding performance training makes a difference in today’s modern polo player.

WORDS LIKE LONGEVITY, RECOVERY AND INJURY PREVENTION ARE EQUAL TO “PERFORMANCE” WHEN IT COMES TO ONE OF THE MOST-LIKELY-TOBE-INJURED SPORTS IN THE WORLD.

place emphasis on medicine balls – and even hitting tennis balls as a major training bonus. However, these simulated movements off of the field do not directly improve the swing technique or power of the professional athlete, and in turn, can often lead to overuse from repetitive motions. Instead, the performance coach must look at how and which muscles are used during the swing, training those muscles to strengthen, while training the counter muscles to balance the body’s swing mechanics.

Step two – look to strengthen the lumbo-pelvic hip complex. This means high levels of core strength and stability along with hip stability.

Hip stability is found through gluteal musculature strength, particularly the glute medius muscles. Having balanced and equally active gluteal muscles can be the difference in The athletes with the strongest lower back pain as well as hip pain. and most mobile bodies typically Performance comes through a strong recover faster, play longer and have core that doesn’t overuse the lower less devastating injuries. However, back. the formula for this training methodology is highly complex with Step three – perform fascia therapy a lot of moving parts that must be and stretch the adductors. Yes, strong adductors are vital for polo implemented to each athlete. players. However, professional polo The performance coach must players are already quite strong in avoid overuse injuries commonly the adductors from countless hours associated with polo. Step one – train of riding. Although it is easy for a the counter muscles. A huge mistake performance coach to say “Train coaches make is simulating power the adductors more for increased movements of hitting the ball. They performance,” this can often lead

to overuse injuries. A polo player typically trains three to four hours a day –and much of that time is spent on saddle or in the cage. Throughout the practice, their adductors are active. When a performance coach trains those adductors another hour after practice, those muscles will be fatigued. Replicate this five to six

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days a week and an injury is likely that there is no one-size-fits-all to occur. approach when it comes to training.

Every program / workout written Step four – analyzing the entire body must be looked upon as a blueprint of the athlete and making individual for building successful and healthy adjustments for their imbalances, athletes; adjusted as needed. weaknesses and strengths. As a performance coach, or any coach Polo is by far one of the most intense for that matter, we must remember sports in the world. With high injury

Pictured L-R: Coaches Edgar Grajo and Mark Wine, and Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand

rates and expenses that go with it, polo players need to stay healthy to prolong their playing career, and it is performance training that will get them there.

Mark Wine is the CEO of FUNCTIONAL MUSCLE FITNESS, INC., in Concord, Calif.

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