Snow polo tournament organized by Santa María Polo Club

(Press release) The Santa María Polo Club, of Sotogrande, is organizing a snow polo tournament at Sierra Nevada, Granada. The Jaeger-LeCoultre Snow Polo Cup 2010 is due to take place on March 13 and 14 with the participation of four 10 to 12 handicap teams, and is free to spectators. Matches start at 2pm on Saturday 13, followed by another at 3.30. The final on Sunday is at 3.30. The tournament, a novel experience in Spain, promises to offer the speed and excitement of regular polo with the added attraction of snow. The game is played on a 100/150 x 80/100 metre field of compacted snow by teams of three to four players. The ball, however, is larger and less rigid than the regular variety and is coloured bright orange for better visibility.
This variety of the game is played in winter at such venues as Saint Moritz (photo) and Klosters (Switzerland), Cortina D’Ampezzo (Italy) and Chapelcó (Argentina) and attracts>
world stars of the game. The new Spanish tournament started out as a practice routine for the likes of Adolfo Cambiaso, Pablo MacDonough and Piki Díaz Alberdi but year after year interest has grown among both players and spectators until Santa María decided to organize a proper event.

The field is being prepared at Los Peñones parking lot, which is accessed by road, public transport and the ski chairs at Parador and Virgen de las Nieves.

Sponsors of the event, aside from Jaeger-Le Coultre, who are closely connected to the sport, include BMW (official car), Nespresso, Alhambra beers, Coca-Cola, Casablanca, Meliá Sol y Nieve Hotel, and AMG Services. The event is also supported by several official tourism organizations, as well as Puerto Deportivo La Alcaidesa and local municipalities.