Polo with Altitude

Polo withaltitu d

THE WEATHER was freezing but the action was hot all over Switzerland, Russia, France, Italy and Austria.

Silk or high-tech thermal underwear was an unseen but essential part of the dress code for players and spectators alike during snow polo tournaments in subzero temperatures at some of Europe’s famous alpine ski resorts and at a golf club not far from the Kremlin.

Russa is the latest country to join the snow polo circuit that also includes St Moritz, Megève, Cortina d’Ampezzo and Kitzbuhel. e Moscow Polo Club was formed last year, bringing the game of kings back to cossack country for the fi rst time since the communists deposed the tzar in the Russian Revolution. is winter Russia’s new social elite turned out in force to watch polo on the snow at the Moscow City Golf Club. e oldest and most glamorous snow polo scene is in St Moritz, where this version of the sport fi rst started in 1985. e Swiss resort, home of the hair-raising, 80mph Cresta Run bobsleigh course, was treated to four days of icy action in the 21st Cartier Polo World Cup On Snow. e event was staged by St Moritz Polo Club on the snow-covered frozen lake where horse racing is also held. England’s Simon Holley and his Maybach team captured the cup. e 10th annual Megève International Polo Masters on snow drew four teams to the French ski resort in the shadow of Mount Blanc. In the Italian resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo, six teams competed for the Audi Gold Cup this year, and there was also snow polo to be seen in the Italian ski centre of Livigno and at Kitzbuhel in the Austrian Alps.

Herbert Spencer

St Moritz Above left: (l to r) Chris Hyde, Simon Holley, Leon Hustinx (Maybach), Nacho Gonzales, Piki Diaz Alberdi

Above: (l to r) Nacho Gonzales, Gabriel Donoso, Chris Hyde, Piki Diaz Alberdi, Oscar Mancini