Aspen Valley Polo Club Partners With Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club
By Sharon Robb
A fire pit ignites nightly at the end of The Jetty, a tribute to the long dormant volcano that shaped this land many years ago.
CARBONDALE, Colo., August 17, 2018---Aspen Valley Polo Club and Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club have formed a partnership to benefit both clubs' growing membership.
Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club, located along the Riviera Nayarit, a nearly 200-mile stretch of coastline in the Western Mexican state of Nayarit, offers residents and guests of One&Only Mandarina world-class facilities for riders of all ages and abilities to learn, practice and compete, featuring two open-air arenas, two state-of-the-art regulation-size polo fields, horse boarding and club house and restaurant overlooking the polo fields.
Located less than an hour north of the Puerto Vallarta International Airport, Mandarina is home to One&Only Mandarina, One&Only Mandarina Private Homes, Rosewood Mandarina, the Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club, world-class restaurants and jungle adventure outpost all situated along a one-mile stretch of beach.
With the majestic 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a backdrop, Aspen Valley Polo Club is one of the busiest and fastest growing clubs in the nation with a membership increase of 75 percent over four seasons.
Since Marc and Melissa Ganzi founded the club in 2014, polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities with the club’s offerings of various weekly grass and arena tournaments, Gladiator Tuesdays and Asado, Kids Polo, The Polo School and Polo On Demand. The club also offers practice sessions for teams competing in the weekend tournaments
The Ganzis are avid players and patrons and "have created a polo paradise" according to Piocho Ranch patron Tom Barrack. Players, sponsors, community leaders and fans share Barrack's sentiments.
The partnership between the two world-class clubs in Colorado and Mexico will benefit its members year-round with VIP access at both clubs.
When Aspen Valley Polo Club members are at Mandarina the following will be available:
*Access to reserve in VIP sections. They can use members-only facilities (lockers, priority reservations, boarding opportunities, etc.).
*Member pricing on any equestrian activities during a member's stay at One&Only Mandarina and free access to all facilities.
*Access during tournaments and events the same as Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club members.
When Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club members visit Aspen Valley Polo Club the following will be available:
*Access to reserve in VIP sections and use of members-only facilities (lockers, priority reservations, boarding opportunities, etc.).
*Member-pricing on any equestrian activities and free access to all facilities.
*Access during tournaments and events the same as Aspen Valley Polo Club members.
This weekend's Mount Sopris Cup sponsored by The Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club and featuring several top players including Sapo Caset, brothers Alejandro and Nacho Novillo Astrada and Nic Roldan, is the eighth grass tournament and tenth overall of the 13-tournament schedule that features ten grass tournaments including the inaugural Aug. 31-Sept. 2 Triple Crown of Polo Trophy and three arena tournaments.
La Karina is this summer's winningest team with three tournament titles. In addition to La Karina, other winners have been:, Piocho Ranch in the Independence Cup and Craig Sakin Memorial; Los Amigos Blue in the ChukkerTV Challenge; and Los Amigos Red in the High Alpine Cup.
Everyone is welcome to enjoy polo at Aspen Valley Polo Club. Admission, food and refreshments are free for fans in a relaxed, laidback atmosphere. An added feature is the club's Jumbotron making its debut this summer for the fans enjoyment.
Aspen, named after trees that quiver in the slightest breeze, offers hiking, mountain biking, rafting, fishing, golf, horseback riding, mountain climbing, great restaurants and taverns in addition to a full summer of polo.
