Sun, Sand, Surf, Plus Polo Players & Ponies Came Together on the Shores of Miami Beach
Beach Polo World Cup 2023 Is A Wrap
It may be one of the oldest team sports in the world, but in South Beach it’s always the sexiest sport on the planet. Here there is a special sexy energy in the air that ignites the atmosphere.
The polo world magically comes alive when the polo venue is built right on the beach consisting of a polo field, retail village and VIP tents along with free public viewing from the periphery with toes in the sand. So, whether folks came in their best polo attire or an itsy-bitsy bikini, all were welcome to soak up the polo vibes under the sunny skies of South Beach.
This year’s World Polo League Beach Polo World Cup took place the weekend of April 21 to 23 featuring 8 international teams with players from over 10 nations and more than 120 horses and over 12,000 spectators. The South Beach event is the largest and most known Beach Polo event in the world. Elite polo players this year included Nacho Figueras (Ralph Lauren model/polo player), Pablo MacDonough (avant garde polo legend and brand ambassador for presenting sponsor Richard Mille), and Melissa Ganzi, (the only female player in the line-up of men as team captain and event co-founder), plus fan favorite Alejandro Novillo Astrada. Not to miss out on all the fun and frivolity, a few of the “Real Housewives of Miami” TV Show, Marysol Patton and Alexia Eschevarria attended to see and be seen.
The picture perfect, action-packed weekend featured lots of liquid libations, gourmet food, Dj music, a curated retail village and a series of off-site events. The invitation-only kick-off cocktail party was held at the hip Mila private club lounge space where the teams were introduced. Reto Gaudenzi, the visionary creator of both beach polo and snow polo, was on hand to greet the guests. He put in a big plug for his annual St. Moritz Snow Polo World Cup going strong for over 30 years. Tito Gaudenzi, son of Reto Gaudenzi and co-founder/producer of the South Beach edition of beach polo remarked, “We’re thrilled to bring the world’s oldest team sport to the iconic sands of Miami Beach. It’s the ultimate luxury lifestyle experience.”
Committed to giving back and supporting the equestrian community, the Beach Polo World Cup event benefited charity partners Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame and The Polo Training Association.
This year’s event sponsor lineup was a mix of luxury and hospitality brands plus lots of liquor and treats like caviar. The range included Richard Mille, The Setai Miami Beach, Don Julio Rosado, Delta | Latam Airlines, Blackfin, St. Moritz Top of the World, The Perigon Miami Beach luxury condo project, Casablanca, Eventstar Structures, Ketel One, High Goal, The Polo Club Grand Champions, Oro Caviar, S.Pellegrino, Acqua Panna, Perrier, Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, Cool Cat Sparkling Cocktail, La Parfait Cosmetics, Horsepower. Additional hospitality sponsors included W South Beach, Shelborne, Esme and Mila. The media partner was CTV Sports.
If you missed Beach Polo Cup 2023, be sure to pencil it into your calendar for Spring 2024. And if you dare to trade your bikini in for furs for the weekend, also add Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz to your itinerary for January 26 to 28, 2024. Til then….
Beach Polo Cup: https://www.miamipolocup.com
Snow Polo Cup: https://www.snowpolo-stmoritz.com/