Rocky Mountain Open, Summer Polo Charity Classic Highlight Busy Weekend At Aspen Valley Polo Club

CARBONDALE, Colo., August 15, 2025---Aspen Valley Polo Club's eighth tournament of the summer begins Friday with the Rocky Mountain Open at McClure River Ranch.

By Sharon Robb

With breathtaking mountain views, the fun begins Friday with four teams competing in the semifinals.

At 10:30 a.m. action begins with Avatar Financial Group, 14, (Ryan Cronin-Prather, Nic Roldan, Hilario Figueras) playing Los Amigos Blue, 16, (Alejandra Foster, Juan Bollini, Tomacho Pieres, Nacho Novillo Astrada) and at noon, The Setai, 14, (Melissa Ganzi, Jason Crowder, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Santos Bollini) plays Los Amigos Red, 16, (Paul Foster, Grant Ganzi, Santiago Toccalino, Sugar Erskine).

Action continues on Saturday with Kidz Polo on the Barn Field at 11 a.m. followed by more fun at Kodiak Lake, 3:15-8 p.m.

The Rocky Mountain Open winds up on Sunday with the final at 11 a.m. on Field One followed by the Just For The Love Of It Cup at 1 p.m. with special ticket holders for the Summer Polo Charity Classic watching both games from field side.

The charity benefit for Aspen Valley Health Foundation will feature polo, champagne, caviar, luxurious food by Caribou Catering and a live auction. 

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.

In last year's Rocky Mountain Open final Audi (Santos Bollini, Martin Jauregui, Gonzalito Pieres) dominated defending champion Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Grant Ganzi, Hilario Figueras, Nic Roldan, 8) for a 10-6 victory. Pieres was MVP. 

Nestled in the awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains, Aspen Valley Polo Club is a summer destination for polo, players and horses. 

The club's 12th season kicked off the July Fourth weekend with world-class polo and unforgettable summer vibes. The club always features busy weeks of lessons, practice sesssions and tournament games. 

Among this season's highlights is the new "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club with a DJ on Sundays; Tuesday's Twilight Polo Nights and Drone Show, an exclusive series through August 26; and Sunday's Summer Polo Charity Classic. 

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

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. Audi (Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Juan Bollini) won the Emma Challenge Cup. The Setai (Silver Novillo Astrada, Jason Crowder, Nic Roldan, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) won the High Alpine Cup. Audi (Jason Crowder, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) won the Mount Sopris Cup.

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 museums, 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. 

For the first time this year, 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) is live streaming the entire 2025 polo summer season Mountain Standard Time with announcer Dale Schwetz calling the action. Aspen Valley Polo Club is the only USPA-sanctioned 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, Kidz Polo, "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club, Tuesday Night Twilight Polo Series and Drone Show, Kidz 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.