Roldan wins another MVP as U.S. Polo Assn. wins World Snow Polo title
-
Kelley Alice Jakle, known best for her role in the "Pitch Perfect" movies, sings the National Anthem ahead of the World Snow Polo Championship on Sunday at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times |
-
Jauncito Bollini of U.S. Polo Assn. goes on the offensive against Flexjet in the World Snow Polo Championship final on Sunday at Rio Grande Park in Aspen. U.S. Polo Assn. won, 5-4.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times |
-
St. Regis, in black, plays Aspen Valley Polo Club in the consolation game of the World Snow Polo Championship on Sunday in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times |
-
-
Melissa Ganzi competes with Flexjet in the final of the World Snow Polo Championship on Sunday in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times |
-
Polo icon Nacho Figueras celebrates with champagne after St. Regis won the consolation match over Aspen Valley Polo Club on Sunday at the World Snow Polo Championship in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times |
-
From left, Juancito Bollini, Grant Ganzi and Nic Roldan celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2017 World Snow Polo Championship on Sunday at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times |
-
Aspen Mountain provided the backdrop for the World Snow Polo Championship on Sunday in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times |
-
St. Regis player Nico Pieres chases down the ball against Aspen Valley Polo Club in Sunday's consolation match of the World Snow Polo Championship in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times |
-
Flexjet, in red, faces U.S. Polo Assn. in the finals of the 2017 World Snow Polo Championship on Sunday at Rio Grande Park in Aspen. U.S. Polo Assn. won, 5-4.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times |
Nic Roldan’s only complaint on Sunday was the relative lack of snow — a sentiment shared by most in the area — but after collecting yet another Most Valuable Player honor, it was just another trivial detail in an otherwise perfect weekend.
Roldan, one of the most recognizable American polo players, led U.S. Polo Assn. to the 2017 World Snow Polo Championship on Sunday at Rio Grande Park in Aspen. He topped it off by receiving his fourth MVP award in the five years the tournament has existed.
“It’s good to get the trophy back on our squad,” Roldan said. “This event was really successful. This was probably one of the most successful ones and we just had a great time.”
Roldan, who lives in Florida, has long been a December fixture in Aspen. Marc and Melissa Ganzi, who run the Aspen Valley Polo Club near Carbondale, host the tournament, known as much for its glamorous VIP tent as for the elite polo names it brings to town. Among those is Argentina’s Nacho Figueras, arguably the face of international polo, a part-time Aspen resident who co-hosts the showcase with the Ganzis.
Figueras and Marc Ganzi joined with Nico Pieres to make up the three-man St. Regis team, easily among the pre-tournament favorites, to win Sunday’s subsidiary over Aspen Valley Polo Club, 8-7.
Roldan and the U.S. Polo Assn. team — which included Juancito Bollini and Grant Ganzi, the son of Marc and Melissa — didn’t have to sweat it out like in the thrilling consolation match, which was played after the final. While they only beat Flexjet, the defending World Snow Polo champions, 5-4, most of Flexjet’s points came late.
“We got a good lead in the beginning and then they got a couple. They are a strong team and they got a couple of good goals in the end, but we were a little more lucky today,” Roldan said. “There was a lot of tough competition this year. I think this was probably one of the best years, if not the best year, team wise, and the attendance was amazing. All in all just a great show and a great tournament.”
Flexjet included Alejandro Novillo Astrada, Juancito’s father Juan Bollini, and Melissa Ganzi. Melissa Ganzi played alongside Jason Crowder and Jesse Bray, the 2016 MVP, en route to winning the tournament last year for Flexjet.
Sunday, she ran into a better team that just happened to include her son.
“It’s tough, because it’s bittersweet when you win. I always want her to play well and I think she played well today,” Grant Ganzi said of playing against his mother. “I just wanted it to be a good game overall and obviously I want to win, but at the end of the day I just want her to play well, I want us to play well and I want everyone to have fun.”
Grant Ganzi credited his team’s defense and ability to rotate players as the reason Flexjet couldn’t find many breakaway opportunities to score. U.S. Polo Assn. led 4-1 at halftime and 5-2 after the third of four chukkers before Flexjet’s too little, too late rally.
This was the third straight year Grant Ganzi, Juancito Bollini and Roldan have played together in the World Snow Polo Championship, although they played under the team Audi banner in 2016. The trio also won the 2015 championship with U.S. Polo Assn. Roldan also was part of championship teams in 2013, the inaugural tournament, and 2014.
“He’s a freak. He can hit the ball as hard as anyone. The guy just crushes the back shots. He just does everything perfectly,” Grant Ganzi said of Roldan. “It’s awesome to have him on your team. Trust me, I’ve played against him, and it sucks playing against him.”
‘Radio icon in the valley’: Broadcaster Jim Williams departs for bigger airwaves
Broadcaster Jim Williams of KSPN and KNFO is leaving the valley after eight years of serving as the voice of Aspen, Basalt and Roaring Fork high school’s sports.
