Twilight Polo Series, Drone Show Make Exclusive Debut At Aspen Valley Polo Club
CARBONDALE, Colo., July 24, 2025---On a beautiful night under a full moon, the Twilight Polo Series and Drone Show made a spectacular exclusive debut Tuesday at Aspen Valley Polo Club.
By Sharon Robb
It was a special night with good music, food and refreshments, game and drone show.
Polo fans were treated to a spirited four-goal chukker game pitting Silver Novillo Astrada and Benja Toccalino, two young up-and-coming future stars of the game, carrying on their families' tradition.
With the stunning 12,965-foot summit of Mount Sopris as a breathtaking backdrop, "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club VIP members had a great field-side view of the hour-long game as well as clear skies for the exclusive debut of the Drone Show.
The Drone Show, courtesy of Melissa Ganzi and Aspen Valley Polo Club, is one of many exclusive ideas created for polo fans by the fastest growing and most innovative staff and polo club in the U.S.
The drones depicted all sorts of colorful formations including the American flag, snow skier, polo player, goal posts and ball, logos for Grand Champions and Aspen Valley Polo Clubs and ending with a fireworks flourish of drones.
The game was just as entertaining with The Setai (Silver Novillo Astrada, Grant Ganzi, Alejandro Novillo Astrada and Nacho Novillo Astrada edging Santa Rita (Benja Toccalino, Jason Crowder, Tomacho Pieres and Nic Roldan, 7-6.
With four seconds left, Silver Novillo Astrada scored the winning goal. Both he and Benja Toccalino each had six goals. Nacho Novillo Astrada added one.
The lead changed hands nine times. The Setai had a 5-3 lead with 1:11 left in the third chukker. Santa Rita worked its way back to tie the game twice before Silver Novillo Astrada's heroics.
The new "Polo Is Beautiful" Beach Club area showcases lounge spaces furnished by Arhaus, featuring a collection of the brand’s artisan-crafted outdoor pieces curated to enhance the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape and provide a welcoming, comfortable retreat for guests to enjoy before, during, and after the matches. Also on the beach side are Cold Plunge pools by Crystal River Spas, beach chairs and umbrellas.
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 club is open every Sunday during the summer season from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. VIP Beach Club tickets are available at aspenvalleypoloclub.com.
The club's 12th season kicked off the first weekend of July with world-class polo and summer vibes and continues through August. Among tournament 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 this weekend's 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.
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, Twilight Polo Series and Drone Show, Arena & Asado Nights, Kidz Polo, Kids Wheelie Polo, Gymkhana, Christmas In July, The Polo School at AVPC and Polo On Demand.
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 The Polo School contact Polo School Director Juan Bollini at 561-346-1099.