40 Years of Snow Polo St. Moritz: A Legacy of Prestige & Tradition

This year, St. Moritz celebrated the 40th edition of Snow Polo, marking its Ruby Anniversary. Against the breathtaking Engadine backdrop, history repeated itself in an unexpected way – a heavy snowstorm mirrored the very conditions of the first-ever Snow Polo tournament in 1985, making this year’s event feel like a poetic full-circle moment.

The Origins of Polo and its Journey to St. Moritz
Polo traces its roots back over 2,000 years to ancient Persia – modern-day Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Over the centuries, it spread across Europe, eventually reaching St. Moritz in 1899, when English soldiers built the first polo field in the Swiss Alps. The sport gained popularity in the region and by 1959, a group of locals officially founded the St. Moritz Polo Club. Between 1960 and 1964, summer tournaments were regularly held, with Snow Polo just a vision away.

The Birth of Snow Polo
Reto Gaudenzi, often referred to as the “Godfather of Snow Polo”, is an Engadin native and hotelier who formed Switzerland’s first-ever polo team in 1978. But his vision extended further to something the world had never seen before: Snow Polo. In January 1985, Gaudenzi hosted players from Munich, Paris and Geneva to compete in a match on the frozen lake of St. Moritz. However, fate had other plans – on the night before the first game, a snowstorm hit, covering the field with nearly a meter of fresh snow. With unwavering determination, the team worked through the night to clear the playing field. Against all odds, history was made and the world’s first Snow Polo tournament was played on 26 January 1985. 

What Reto Gaudenzi started in St. Moritz soon became a prestigious event on the inernational polo caldendar. Snow Polo expanded worldwide, reachoing Aspen (USA), Cortina (Italy) and Kitzbühel (Austria). Today, the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz attracts an elite audience of players, journalists and polo ethusiasts. Each year, around 25,000 spectators gather to witness world-class polo in the heart of the Swiss Alps, with an exclusive Gala Dinner selling out months in advance.

The 2025 Tournament: A Storm of Nostalgia
This year’s 40th edition took place from Friday, 24 January to Sunday, 26 January 2025, bringing together six world-class teams – World Polo League, The Kusnacht Practice, Flexjet, Mackage, Land of Fire, Taos – in a fierce battle of victory. The final match saw a historic win for The Kusnacht Practice. What made this year’s event truly unforgettable was the unexpected snowstorm, echoing the very storm that preceded the first tournament exactly 40 years ago.

A Timeless Tradition
Held annually on the last weekend of January, the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz continues to honor its legacy while embracing the future. With its stunning alpine backdrop and unwavering commitment to the sport, St. Moritz remains the heart of Snow Polo. Four decades after Reto Gaudenzi’s bold vision, Snow Polo remains a symbol of class, tradition and resilience, continuing to draw players and spectators from around the world to experience this unique event.