Emma Challenge Highlights Busy Weekend At Aspen Valley Polo Club

CARBONDALE, Colo., July 25, 2025---The fifth tournament of the summer season at Aspen Valley Polo Club begins Friday with the Emma Challenge.

By Sharon Robb

With spectacular views of the mountains as a backdrop, the fun begins on Friday at McClure River Ranch with two semifinal games.

In the opening semifinal game at 10:30 a.m., Sopris (Silver Novillo Astrada, Sugar Erskine, Hilario Figueras, Jimmy Seward) plays Los Amigos (Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Nacho Novillo Astrada).

In the second game at noon, Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Tomacho Pieres, Santos Bollini, Jason Crowder) plays Audi (Govinda Quish, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini).

The club's 12th season kicked off the July Fourth weekend with world-class polo and unforgettable summer vibes and continues with another busy week of polo. 

After a successful debut of the Twilight Polo Nights and Drone Show on Tuesday, there is Saturday's highly-anticipated Christmas In July party and gift giving, Kidz Polo and Pizza Making, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and Kodiak Lake fun the rest of the day. The Emma Challenge winds up on Sunday with the final at 11 a.m. and Just For The Love Of It at 1 p.m.

Last year's Emma Challenge was won by Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Santi Toccalino, 7, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, 7, Juan Bollini, 3) who defeated tournament favorite Tamera (Ale Poma, 1, Grant Ganzi, 3, Hilario Figueras, 5, Nic Roldan, 8), 8-7, for its second win of the season. Toccalino swept MVP and BPP honors.

The Emma Challenge Cup is named after the town of Emma, Colo., located on Highway 82 between Carbondale and Aspen. Emma was once a sizable town in the past. The three buildings on the north side of the road are on the state historical register and preserved site. There is a church directly across the highway on the north side. There is a small trail on the north side of the road taking visitors up to the site.

Among this season's highlights at the nation's fastest growing club are the new "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club on Sundays; Twilight Polo Nights featuring Tuesday Night Arena and Twilight Polo, an exclusive series from July 29 to August 26; and Aug. 17th Summer Polo Charity Classic to benefit Aspen Valley Health Foundation. 

Other highlights are the Aug. 21-24 Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen and Silver Queen Invitational doubleheader and August 26 Aspen Arena Series Final.

The remaining summer tournaments are  the July 31-August 3 High Alpine Cup, August 7-10 Mount Sopris Cup, August 7-17 Rocky Mountain Open, August 14-17 Carbondale Classic and Aug. 28-31 season-finale Maroon Bells Cup.

To open the 2025 season, Wellington-based 3 Graces Polo, making its Aspen debut, won both the Independence Cup  (Rebecca Cohen, Nacho Novillo Astrada, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini) and ChukkerTV Cup (Rebecca Cohen, Nic Roldan, Alejandro Novillo Astrada). McClure River Ranch (Roberto Poma/Ale Poma, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Hilario Figueras) won the Craig Sakin Memorial. Mountain Chevrolet (Michael Payne, Sugar Erskine, Nic Roldan, Grant Ganzi) won the Basalt Handicap.

The family-friendly club on 15 acres of pristine land welcomes spectators of all ages. All matches, food and refreshments are free (with the exception of special catered events) and open to the public including dogs on leashes.

Unlike any other summer polo destination in the world, the local culture offers shops, incredible culinary scene, art, music and nightlife in addition to hiking trails, mountain biking, whitewater river rafting, kayaking, golf and fly fishing. 

Last year Aspen Valley Polo Club celebrated its 11th anniversary and enjoyed its best season on the Rocky Mountain circuit, highlighted by the Summer Polo Charity Classic. This year's event is scheduled for Sunday, August 17th. 

The day will feature polo, champagne, caviar and luxuruous food by Caribou Catering. For those interested in purchasing tickets, sponsoring a table, donating an item for the live auction or volunteering for the event,  contact Amy Kaiser Pendarvis, Events Coordinator, at 970-544-1126 or apendarvis@aspenvalleyhealth.org.

Last year's event raised the most money in a single-day polo event in the United States.  The event hit the $1 million mark with about $700,000 going to Aspen Valley Hospital operations. It was the second time the event hit the $1 million mark since it was created in 2016.

There is also the new weekly "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club, open every Sunday during the summer season from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. VIP Beach Club tickets are available at aspenvalleypoloclub.com. Ticket holders are treated to handcrafted cocktails, traditional Argentine asado with a variety of meats including steak and sausages and always entertaining live DJ music. The Beach Club showcases lounge spaces furnished by Arhaus on beach sand and also Cold Plunge pools by Crystal River Spas, beach chairs and umbrellas with great fieldside views. 

If you can't make it to the games in person, Wellington, Fla.-based ChukkerTV (CTV sports) will live stream the entire 2025 polo summer season Mountain Standard Time with announcer Dale Schwetz calling the action. Aspen Valley Polo Club is the only USPA club to live stream its entire summer schedule.

With a vision for the community and surrounding areas, the Ganzi family resurrected the club and polo in 2014. Since then polo has increased in popularity in Aspen and surrounding cities with the club's offerings of various weekly grass and arena tournaments, Arena & Asado Nights, Kidz Polo, "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club, Twilight Polo Series, Kids Wheelie Polo, Gymkhana, Christmas In July, The Polo School at AVPC and Polo On Demand. 

In addition, the club offers practice sessions for teams competing in the club tournaments on more than six world-class fields. There are also indoor and outdoor polo arenas. 

Aspen Valley Polo Club caters to men, women and youth polo players at all levels. Its' expert staff can customize a complete playing experience including horses, pros and certified umpires in addition to lessons and practice sessions as part of its' Polo On Demand program.

For more information on leagues or Polo School contact Polo School Director Juan Bollini at  561-346-1099.