Countdown Begins For Aspen Valley Polo Club July 5th Independence Cup Summer Opener
CARBONDALE, Colo., June 13, 2025---World-class polo returns to the valley when Aspen Valley Polo Club kicks off its much-anticipated summer season with the July 5th Independence Cup.
By Sharon Robb
In a scenic mountain setting, the summer destination for polo features top players including three of the nation's top-ranked players, top caliber horses and sponsors from around the world.
The world-class lineup features U.S. Open teammates Nic Roldan and Santi Toccalino, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Tomacho Pieres, Sugar Erskine and Jason Crowder.
With the magnificent 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a summer backdrop, the 12th season will come alive with traditional holiday action.
The club's breathtaking landscape and awe-inspiring Rocky Mountains adds to the vibrant energy of polo action that will feature fourteen grass and arena tournaments in July and August.
The family-friendly club on 15 acres of well-manicured land welcomes spectators of all ages. All matches, food and refreshments are free and open to the public except for special events.
"Aspen stands out not just as a polo club, but as a town," said Grant Ganzi, another top player competing during the summer season after coming off a successful high goal season in the World Polo League at Grand Champions Polo Club. "It's competitive no doubt, but what sets it apart is the energy beyond the field."
Among season highlights is the new Twilight Polo Series featuring Tuesday Night Arena and Twilight Polo, an exclusive series from July 29 to August 26 at the nation's fastest growing club 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, July 10-13 Craig Sakin Memorial and August 26 Aspen Arena Series Final.
Other summer tournaments are the July 6 ChukkerTV Cup, July 17-20 Basalt Handicap, July 24-27 Emma Challenge Cup, 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.
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, river rafting, 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. A record crowd including 250 VIP guests, enjoyed food, music, polo, auction and vendors during an exciting day of polo. 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.
This year's Summer Polo Charity Classic 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.
During the 2024 summer season, there were nine different team champions illustrating the parity and competitiveness of the 2024 summer season. They were:
Santa Rita (Haley Schaufeld, Grant Ganzi, Tomacho Pieres, Juan Bollini) in the Independence Cup.
Casablanca (Marc Ganzi, Martin Jauregui, Nic Roldan, Grant Ganzi) in the ChukkerTV Cup.
Casablanca (Marc Ganzi, Santos Bollini, Nic Roldan, Grant Ganzi) in the Craig Sakin Memorial.
Los Amigos Red (Nic Roldan, Hilario Figueras, Paul Foster, Grant Ganzi) in the Basalt Handicap.
Los Amigos Red (Alejandra Foster, Santi Toccalino, Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juan Bollini) in the Emma Challenge Cup.
Mountain Chevrolet (Fran Spinacci, Michael Payne, Pablo Spinacci, Gonzalito Pieres) in the High Alpine Cup.
Tonkawa (Jeff Hildebrand, Grant Ganzi, Nic Roldan, Hilario Figueras) in the Carbondale Classic.
Los Amigos Blue (Paul Foster, Pablo Spinacci, Tomacho Pieres, Jason Crowder) in the Silver Queen Invitational.
Maltese Falcons (Nacho Novillo Astrada, Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) in the Triple Crown of Polo-Aspen.
Audi (Santos Bollini, Martin Jauregui, Gonzalito Pieres, Marc Ganzi) in the Rocky Mountain Open.
Maltese Falcons (Nacho Novillo Astrada, Melissa Ganzi, Alejandra Foster, Alejandro Novillo Astrada) in the season-ending Triple Crown of Polo.
Wellington, Fla.-based ChukkerTV (CTV sports) will live stream the entire 2025 polo 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, philanthropists Marc and Melissa Ganzi 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, 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 Director of Operations Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099.