Cartier Polo World Cup on Snow

An Alpine winter wonderland is the fairy-tale backdrop for this annual show of glitz, glamour and sporting prowess. Snow polo may sound like a quirky offshoot of more serious equestrian activities, but the World Cup on Snow is, in fact, one of Europe’s top polo fixtures, taken very seriously by those taking part – and those watching. For one weekend a year, the frozen lake of St Moritz becomes a 10-inch-thick ice playing field, on which four teams from around the world battle it out for the prestigious Cartier Trophy, watched by aristocratic sets from across the continent. The glamour quotient is so high that the bright-red inflatable ball (used instead of a traditional ball to show up against the ice and snow) seems more like a cheeky imposter than the event centre-piece. Sporting achievement aside, this is a high-end playground for black credit cards, but the mega-bucks reputation isn’t the whole story. The tournament attracts plenty of visitors who arrive without private jet or even Dior snow goggles; they come for the incredible scenery and turbo-charged sportsmanship, and maybe just a little bit of people-watching…

Highlights

The two days of games are the main draw, but there are plenty of après-polo parties to enjoy, too. If you get the chance to attend the Polo Gala Night on the Saturday, go! Invitations are like gold dust and can’t be bought.

Cartier Polo World Cup on Snow Highlight Image

In The Know

Head Count

Up to 20,000 polo fans corral in St Moritz for the four-day tournament.

Meeting Point

Just by the ticket-information tent is an easy option, or else at the public bar.

Best View

The grandstand is best, but many specatators watch from the sidelines; you still get an eyeful of every chukka, and the atmosphere is cracking.

What If

I don’t know the first thing about polo? This is one of the most exciting games to play and to watch, even for the uninitiated. The sight of strapping players and snorting ponies powering across the ice is real edge-of-your-seat stuff. Besides, hanging out with the polo set in St Moritz and feeling as though you’re in a James Bond film has a certain charm.

Packing Tips

This is a Chanel winterwear kind of place. Bear in mind that the temperature can fall below -10ºC.

Escape

Take a horse-drawn sleigh through the snowy woods of Pontresina to the Roseg Gletscher restaurant. See www.roseg-gletscher.ch for details, or ring +41 (0)81 842 6445.

Dos and don'ts

• Learn some of the terminology. To get you started: ‘riding off’ and ‘hooking’ are defence tactics; the line of the ball is key; a ‘chukka’ is a seven-minute period of play.
• Don’t miss the polo party at the King’s Club on Saturday night. Tickets are CHF50 (about £20) and available from the St Moritz Polo Office.
• Make an effort to look the part: this is a social event where style matters, and you should never be seen without your sunglasses – even if it’s cloudy.

Need To Know

Children

Kids are welcome and the majority will enjoy the spectacle and excitement, not to mention the snow. There are usually lots of young families here, and there’s a free childcare tent open all day.

Parking

There are plenty of spaces, usually with a small charge to pay.

Disability Access

Wheelchair users will have no vantage problems watching the games, and the rest of St Moritz is also reasonably navigable.

Food & Drink

There are a couple of sustenance options inside the public tent, but we recommend you survive on champagne for the duration of the game and then head into town, where there is much excellent cuisine to be enjoyed. For chocolate-box appeal and traditional food, try Restaurant Jöhri’s Talvo (+41 (0)81 833 4455; www.relaischateaux.com/talvo). Diamond (+41 (0)81 834 9765; www.diamond-stmoritz.ch), a supper club, bar and restaurant, is a more modern alternative.

Sleep

Assuming you want to avoid the chintz, we’d recommend you choose a luxury chalet rather than a hotel. The best in town is the wonderful 17th-century Chesa Albertini (020 7384 3854; www.descent.co.uk), with nine bedrooms, a cinema room and a fantastic Jacuzzi. There’s also the rather more extravagant Suvretta House (+41 (0)81 836 3636; www.suvrettahouse.ch). It does look a teeny bit like the hotel from The Shining but don’t be put off: this place really is five-star fabulous.

VIP

Behind the frozen lake is a whole tent-town, where each of the team sponsors has its own marquee to receive guests.