Carbondale Classic Highlights Four Days Of Polo At Aspen Valley Polo Club

CARBONDALE, Colo., August 21, 2019---Aspen Valley Polo Club, the nation's most active polo club, will host seven games over four days this week at Sopris Mountain Ranch and McClure River Ranch.

The fun four days of polo begins Thursday with the 20-goal Just For The Love Of It Cup at McClure River Ranch at 2:30 p.m.

Audi (Marc Ganzi, Pablo Spinacci, Nic Roldan, Jared Zenni) plays Flexjet (Melissa Ganzi, Tincho Merlos, Grant Ganzi, Hilario Ulloa). The final is Saturday at 11 a.m. at McClure River Ranch.

On Friday, the semifinals of the Carbondale Classic will be held at Sopris Mountain Ranch at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

In the opening semifinal, Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Lauren Sherry, Kris Kampsen, Alfredo Bigatti) plays La Karina (Brian Boyd, Gussie Busch, Carlitos Gracida, Sebastian Merlos).

In the second semifinal, Los Amigos (Paul Foster, Juancito Bollini, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) plays McClure River Ranch (Alejandra Foster, Lucas Lalor, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Stewart Armstrong).

The winners advance into the Carbondale Classic final on Sunday at 11 a.m. at McClure River Ranch followed by the Just For The Thrill Of It Cup at 12:30 p.m.

In last year's Carbondale Classic final, Los Amigos Blue came from behind to win. Trailing by one going into the final chukker, Los Amigos Blue (Brian Boyd, Nic Roldan, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Paul Foster) scored four goals to defeat Casablanca (Carlitos Gracida, Grant Ganzi, Stewart Armstrong, Alejandro Novillo Astrada), 11-9. Roldan was MVP.

In the 2017 Carbondale Classic, Travieso (Mike Azzaro, Teo Calle, Tony Calle, Carlitos Gracida) won its second tournament of the season with an 11-8 victory over Casablanca (Marc Ganzi, Grant Ganzi, Stewart Armstrong, Juancito Bollini). Gracida was MVP.

The Carbondale Classic is named after the town of Carbondale, where Aspen Valley Polo Club is located. The picturesque town is located 170 miles west of Denver and 14 miles from Aspen in the heart of Colorado's breathtaking central Rocky Mountains, resting in the shadow of the 12,953-foot Mount Sopris.

Coming off its most successful summer season, Aspen Valley Polo Club lined up a star-studded field of players including Hilario and Salvador Ulloa, Sapo Caset, Alejandro and Nacho Novillo Astrada, Tincho and Sebastian Merlos and Nic Roldan for the summer to compete with and against patrons and amateur players.

The 2019 summer tournament champions are: Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Alfredo Bigatti, Pablo Spinacci, Juancito Bollini), Rocky Mountain Handicap; Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Grant Ganzi, Hilario Ulloa, Salvador Ulloa), Rocky Mountain Open; La Karina (Brian Boyd, Lauren Sherry, Carlitos Gracida, Sebastian Merlos), Mount Sopris Cup; Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Juan Martin Obregon, Sapo Caset, Mason Wroe), 119th USPA Silver Cup; Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Gabriel Gracida, Juan Bollini, Paul Foster), High Alpine Cup; Los Amigos Blue (Alejandra Foster, Alejandro Poma, Salvador Ulloa, Juan Bollini), Emma Challenge; Piocho Ranch (Gussie Busch, Nacho Figueras, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Tom Barrack), Basalt Handicap; La Karina (Brian Boyd, Carlitos Gracida, Sebastian Merlos, Kris Kampsen), USPA North American Cup; Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Nacho Novillo Astrada), ChukkerTV Challenge; Los Amigos Red (Hilario Figueras, Paul Foster, Lucas Lalor, Nacho Novillo Astrada), Craig Sakin Memorial; and Piocho Ranch (Tom Barrack, Gabriel Gracida, Nacho Figueras, Salvador Ulloa), the season-opening Independence Cup winners.

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 USPA-sanctioned clubs in the nation.

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, Tuesday Arena & Asado Nights, Kidz Polo, The Polo School headed by former 8-goaler Juan Bollini, and Polo On Demand. In addition, the club offers practice sessions for teams competing in the club tournaments.

"We want to make Aspen Valley Polo Club the place for this Valley," said co-owner Marc Ganzi, who grew up in Aspen. "The gates are open, the food is free, the drinks are free and your first polo lesson is free if you want to come take one and try the game. Our approach is come as you are. We prefer flip flops over high heels. We just want to get people to appreciate the horses and the Valley."

Aspen Valley Polo Club has had a positive impact in the area hosting kids polo camps, teaching lessons and several charitable events at the club that have benefitted local charities.

Aspen Peak Magazine has featured the club and its polo and charity events several times and recently featured players Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini, Tony Calle and Nic Roldan in a cover story.

The Ganzis are avid players and patrons and "have created a polo paradise" according to Piocho Ranch patron Tom Barrack. "You can go all over the world but you can't have these kind of people, players and horses in this setting. It's really a gift." Players, sponsors, community leaders and fans share Barrack's sentiments.

All ages are 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 which made its debut last summer for the fans' enjoyment, Aspen Valley Polo Club Boutique and new electronic scoreboard.