Construction Work Begins Apace For Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2025

The countdown has begun! Preparations for The 40th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz are in full swing. Unprecedented demand for sponsorship and VIP tickets is significantly higher than in previous years, with hotels in the region already fully booked. With the required ice thickness on the frozen Lake of St. Moritz now approved, construction work can commence without delay. With perfect conditions, nothing stands in the way of this prestigious event – vital to the Engadin region with an economic impact of around CHF 25 million!

The glamorous tournament, which began as a visionary adventure in 1985, will once again attract around 25,000 visitors over three action-packed days. Against the stunning backdrop of the Engadin mountains, the event will feature thrilling polo matches alongside a diverse supporting programme. As always, entry to the polo grounds is free. For those unable to attend, Pololine.tv will broadcast all the matches live online.

Preparations are going according to plan, set-up is a logistical masterpiece

On 7 January 2025, measurements taken on the frozen Lake of St. Moritz confirmed an ice thickness exceeding 27 cm in the designated event area, providing ideal conditions for infrastructure setup. Over the next two weeks, tent structures, grandstands, fences, towers and platforms, technical facilities and other infrastructure, as well as the impressive 200 x 100 metre polo field, will be built. The 40-strong team will move 3,900 tons of material in total – an incredible organisational feat that will once again put St. Moritz in the global spotlight.

Reto Gaudenzi, CEO of The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, explains, “Completing all the facilities on time is a huge achievement and is only possible in such a short space of time thanks to the tireless efforts of everyone involved and the smooth collaboration of our well-coordinated teams. The work is being coordinated by the municipality's own See-Infra AG, supported by regional and local companies and a large number of specialist teams." 

Interest continues unabated, with some VIP packages already fully booked

Interest in The 40th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz from sponsors, partners and guests remains strong, with demand for VIP packages even higher than in previous years. The Gala Evening at Badrutt's Palace has been sold out for months. VIP tickets are currently only available for Friday and Sunday, but Chukker Club tickets are still available for all three days. Tickets can be booked directly at: https://www.snowpolo-stmoritz.com/tickets/ but don’t delay as it is first come, first served!

40 years of glamour and glitz – a success story since 1985

Since its premiere in 1985, The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz (the only high-goal polo tournament on snow) has been a symbol of elegance, sporting prowess and international glamour. Founder Reto Gaudenzi recalls the challenges of the inaugural event, "A heavy snowstorm threatened the tournament, but with the combined efforts of helpers, the fire brigade, locals and players, the first match on snow was played successfully. Since then, the tournament has become a landmark in international polo. We will continue this tradition in 2025, with six teams of players from eleven nations competing for our coveted trophy.”

The organisers are looking forward to the return of 2019 winner Melissa Ganzi, who recently won the World Polo League Beach Polo World Cup in Miami; Eduardo Greghi is returning for his third consecutive year with The Kusnacht Practice – but with a brand new team line-up; Jonathan Tidswell-Pretorius and Niclas Johansson will be competing for the second year running with the same team to include world class Uruguayan player David 'Pelón' Stirling and Swiss crowd favourite Tito Gaudenzi. Team Captain Dillon Bacon will also be returning to St. Moritz to play alongside his brother Cameron and four-time tournament winner Max Charlton. Grant Ganzi also knows the tournament inside out from his previous appearances and will be playing for Team Mackage. The winners of 2022 and 2023 Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, Team Azerbaijan - Land of Fire, will also be back in 2025 aiming for their third title. 

The 40th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz Teams

• World Polo League (16): Melissa Ganzi (0), Jason Crowder (5), Alejandro Novillo Astrada (7) & Mariano Gracida (4)
• The Kusnacht Practice (16): Eduardo Greghi (0), Francisco Belaustegui (3), Chris Mackenzie (6) & Isidro Strada (7)
• Flexjet (15): Jonathan Tidswell-Pretorius/Niclas Johansson (0), Pelayo Berazadi (5), David 'Pelón' Stirling (8) & Tito Gaudenzi (2),
• Taos (16): Cameron Bacon (0), Dillon Bacon (3), Max Charlton (6) & Alfredo Bigatti (7)
• Mackage (16): Benji Daniels (1), Grant Ganzi (3), Nic Roldan/Fred Mannix (7) & Tommy Collingwood (5)
• Azerbaijan - Land of Fire (14): Elchin Jamalli (2), Tarlan Gurbanaliyev (0), Adrian Laplacette Jr (6) & Raul Laplacette (6)

In addition to the thrilling sporting competition, the Snow Polo World Cup features a diverse supporting programme for all ages. Traditional ‘Schlitteda’ and ‘Chalandamarz’ parades, live musical performances, and culinary delights at the Polo Piazza ensure plenty of entertainment. For information on the programme, visit: https://www.snowpolo-stmoritz.com/tournament-2025/program/.