Snow polo: ‘Sexy’ winter version of a man, a horse and a stick

1 minute read
Published 11:18 AM EST, Thu December 17, 2015
It's the sport of polo, but not as you know it.
It's the sport of polo, but not as you know it.
Courtesy Michael Ferreira
This week's World Snow Polo Championship in Aspen, Colorado is the final 2015 stop on the <a href="http://www.worldpolotour.com/?sec=3" target="_blank" target="_blank">World Polo Tour</a>.
This week's World Snow Polo Championship in Aspen, Colorado is the final 2015 stop on the World Polo Tour.
Courtesy Michael Ferreira
This version of polo is played on a snow-packed field surrounded by fencing to keep the ball in play.
This version of polo is played on a snow-packed field surrounded by fencing to keep the ball in play.
Courtesy Michael Ferreira
Like arena polo -- a fast-paced version played on all-weather pitches -- teams in the snow variant have three players, one more than the traditional field format.
Like arena polo -- a fast-paced version played on all-weather pitches -- teams in the snow variant have three players, one more than the traditional field format.
Courtesy Michael Ferreira
Horses are also given special cleated shoes to provide better traction and prevent slippage.<br />
Horses are also given special cleated shoes to provide better traction and prevent slippage.
Courtesy Michael Ferreira
To make visibility easier for spectators and players, a light orange ball larger than the typical white plastic sphere is used.
To make visibility easier for spectators and players, a light orange ball larger than the typical white plastic sphere is used.
Courtesy Michael Ferreira
The first official snow polo match took place in 1985, in the Swiss town of St. Moritz. The resort at the foot of Piz Bernina, the tallest peak in the eastern Alps, has hosted its version of the Snow Polo World Cup every year since.<br />
The first official snow polo match took place in 1985, in the Swiss town of St. Moritz. The resort at the foot of Piz Bernina, the tallest peak in the eastern Alps, has hosted its version of the Snow Polo World Cup every year since.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images for St Moritz Polo AG
In recent years, China has started another <a href="http://www.snowpoloworldcup.com/2015/about_tianjin_goldin.php" target="_blank" target="_blank">Snow Polo World Cup</a> event in Tianjin, with the backing of governing body the Federation of International Polo.<br />
In recent years, China has started another Snow Polo World Cup event in Tianjin, with the backing of governing body the Federation of International Polo.
Lars Baron/Bongarts/Getty Images
The Austrian town Kitzbuehel also hosts its own Snow Polo World Cup, which it bills as the "<a href="https://www.kitzbuehel.com/en/events-lifestyle/top-events/14th+valartis+bank+snow+polo+world+cup_te45882" target="_blank" target="_blank">world's largest polo tournament on snow</a>." The 15th staging will be in January 2016.
The Austrian town Kitzbuehel also hosts its own Snow Polo World Cup, which it bills as the "world's largest polo tournament on snow." The 15th staging will be in January 2016.
Martin Schalk/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images
Organizers say the Aspen event, which runs from Thursday to Saturday, is the only snow polo tournament in the U.S.
Organizers say the Aspen event, which runs from Thursday to Saturday, is the only snow polo tournament in the U.S.
Courtesy Michael Ferreira
The 2015 Aspen competition will feature players like Nic Roldan, Jeff Hall and <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/22/sport/nacho-figueras-polo-model/">Nacho Figueras</a> (pictured), who is often referred to as the "David Beckham of polo."<br />
The 2015 Aspen competition will feature players like Nic Roldan, Jeff Hall and Nacho Figueras (pictured), who is often referred to as the "David Beckham of polo."
Jason Bahr/Getty Images North America
"To be able to play polo in this environment with this background is really fantastic, and another great way to introduce people to the sport of polo," Figueras said in previewing the event for polo broadcast specialist Chukka TV.<br />
"To be able to play polo in this environment with this background is really fantastic, and another great way to introduce people to the sport of polo," Figueras said in previewing the event for polo broadcast specialist Chukka TV.
Jason Bahr/Getty Images North America
Figueras (pictured here in black) has also modeled for Ralph Lauren and is a sporting icon in his native Argentina. He believes snow polo can help promote the sport and attract new fans.<br />
Figueras (pictured here in black) has also modeled for Ralph Lauren and is a sporting icon in his native Argentina. He believes snow polo can help promote the sport and attract new fans.
Courtesy Gary Hubbell
"One of my missions in life is to bring polo to the world, to give people more of an idea of what it is all about," Figueras said. "I want to raise awareness of the sport I fell in love with at an early age."<br />
"One of my missions in life is to bring polo to the world, to give people more of an idea of what it is all about," Figueras said. "I want to raise awareness of the sport I fell in love with at an early age."
Courtesy Michael Ferreira
Figueras, whose image also adorns a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/nacho-figueras-to-help-market-a-new-line-of-polo-romance-novels/2015/11/13/5197fbd6-8988-11e5-be8b-1ae2e4f50f76_story.html" target="_blank" target="_blank">series of recently released romance novels</a>, added his own flourish when describing the most attractive aspects of polo. "There is something very sexy about a man and a horse," he said. "The speed and the adrenaline, it's very appealing for women, that's a fact."<br />
Figueras, whose image also adorns a series of recently released romance novels, added his own flourish when describing the most attractive aspects of polo. "There is something very sexy about a man and a horse," he said. "The speed and the adrenaline, it's very appealing for women, that's a fact."
Courtesy Michael Ferreira
Snow Polo: The 'sexy' winter version of a man, horse and stick

Story highlights

Aspen hosts World Snow Polo Championship

Features star players like Nacho Figueras

CNN  — 

The snow-sprinkled landscape of Aspen, Colorado, may be more commonly associated with winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding.

But there’s a new horse in town this week – quite literally.

The World Snow Polo Championship will kick off at the Aspen Valley Polo Club on Thursday before moving on to the nearby Rio Grande Park on Friday and Saturday, with some of the sport’s star names such as Nacho Figueras set to take part.

The event is the final stop this year on the World Polo Tour circuit – a series of tournaments in which the world’s best players compete and are awarded ranking points based on their performance.

But snow polo is far from a new phenomenon. The sport was first played on a frozen lake in St. Moritz, Switzerland, in 1985 and has been growing ever since.

It has been taken up as far afield as Austria and China, where snow polo competitions are staged each year.

Flick through the above gallery for stunning snow polo images

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