St. Moritz, Switzerland, consistently ranks among the world’s top luxury travel destinations, and one event held each year in the ultra-chic resort town continues to cement this status. Snow Polo St. Moritz began as an experiment to attract tourists to the Engadin region of Switzerland and has since become an institution on the global polo tour. The event attracts the world’s best polo players and fans as well as the most glamorous spectators. It’s hard to believe that over 40 years ago, this sport and event was nothing more than a dream.
Swiss hotelier Reto Gaudenzi was inspired to create the sport of snow polo after a winning performance in a tournament on a hot day in Munich in 1983 as a way to promote the sport of polo in the Engadin region and attract tourists. Two years of research and planning ensued to adapt the sport of grass polo to the unique conditions of St. Moritz’s frozen lake, but in 1985, the hard work paid off, and Snow Polo St. Moritz was born.
The idea of adapting the glamorous and exciting sport of polo for snow was not a new concept. Gaudenzi remembered failed attempts in the 1960s that had declared the idea impossible, making the concept all the more appealing to him. “I found the idea of making the impossible possible the ultimate challenge,” Gaudenzi added.
Gaudenzi quickly narrowed down the main problems with the early attempt; the balls used blended in with the snow, and the ponies lacked traction on the slippery surface. He first switched the hard white balls used for grass polo to the brightly colored inflatable balls used for arena polo. He then moved on to the question of traction.
A unique horseshoe was designed to include a rubber insert and studded shoe, providing the ponies with the best possible grip. Gaudenzi next moved on to hiring a field master who assured him that the playing surface would be taken care of and allow for the most exciting matches possible. Financial sponsors and brands were brought on board, and finally, the date was set for the sport’s premiere. It would take place January 25-26, 1985.
Forty years later, the event continues to grow, and the excitement and glamour of the sport of polo are celebrated. No small feat to produce, the tournament has an operating budget of over 2 million CHF and requires a total of 5,600 man-hours to install massive amounts of infrastructure on the frozen lake. In typically Swiss fashion, no detail is overlooked. From heated stabling for more than 100 polo ponies to the best in spectator infrastructure, it’s hard to believe the event occurs on a frozen lake!
The 2025 tournament will take place from the 24th to the 26th of January and is the only high-goal snow polo tournament in the world, though other tournaments are following in its footsteps. The tournament generates an average income of 24 million CHF per year for the Engadin region, bringing international sponsors and media attention to the mountain resort.
This year’s event sponsors include Mackage, Flexjet, World Polo League, and more. But the excitement doesn’t just take place on the ice; the resort comes alive with the spirit of the event as VIP Gala Dinners are hosted at the town’s various high-end hotels and restaurants whilst polo players and their entourages can be spotted enjoying the festivities over the course of the tournament.
There’s something about the ultra-chic mountain town that makes it the perfect host for such an iconic and glamorous event. The 2025 tournament celebrates 40 years of the event and is not to be missed. Since the first tournament, admission to the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz has been free, though there are many options for VIP treatment. From the Perrier-Jouet Chukker Club to the tournament VIP area, spectators can enjoy free champagne and more whilst taking in the on-ice excitement.
Chukker Club tickets start at 120 CHF, whilst VIP tickets start at 620 CHF for the day. Attracting over 15,000 spectators, it’s safe to say these tickets are in high demand. Gaudenzi adds, “This 40th anniversary is an incredibly important milestone for all of us. It is a very special opportunity to look back on the impressive development of this tournament and, at the same time, celebrate the future of snow polo.”
For Gaudenzi, the sheer impossibility of the event called to him; for players and spectators alike, it holds much of the same appeal even 40 years later. The weather and ice conditions must be just right for the games to happen; sustained high temperatures have altered the event programming when the ice thickness wasn’t safe, and blizzards have also complicated past events.
Perhaps the most unbelievable aspect of the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz is not the sheer display of wealth and all things luxury but the concept of 4,000 tonnes of infrastructure, including over 100 polo ponies and 25,000 spectators on a frozen lake one weekend…and gone the next.
