Standing Rock Wins at the Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz

Following a win in Kitzbühel, Austria, at the 23rd Bendura Bank Snow Polo World Cup, Standing Rock Polo Team traveled straight to Switzerland, where they continued their impressive winning streak by claiming a consecutive victory at the 41st Snow Polo World Cup in St. Moritz - a feat that has not before been achieved by the same polo team in the same year. 

The Snow Polo in St. Moritz is renowned as one of the most competitive and spectacular tournaments played on snow, seeing world-class players and patrons vying for glory, along with record crowds of 26,000 spectators attending the final day this year.  

Getting off to a strong start on the Friday, the Standing Rock line-up of Philipp Müller, Max Charlton, Raul Laplacette and Nacho Gonzalez first faced team Investec, and quickly asserted their dominance throughout the game, right from the first chukka, claiming a spot in the Semi-Finals with a 6-4 win. 

On Friday evening, at the Kulm Hotel St Moritz, Standing Rock invited friends in the polo community to an aperitif to celebrate this year’s Snow Polo Word Cup tournament and to share how the Native American Lakota Values guide the whole organisation. Guests enjoyed drinks and canapes before a short series of engaging video presentations and speeches by Philipp Müller and David Morley, expressing Standing Rock’s respect for the culture and beliefs of Native American tribes, and how the Seven Lakota Values inspire the Standing Rock team, the Standing Rock Fair Play Award and the Standing Rock Foundation. 

The next match on Saturday, against team Azerbaijan - Land of Fire was a close and exciting contest that saw both teams fighting hard to get ahead, but Standing Rock displayed true warrior spirit and resilience to win 5 - 4.5 and secure their place in the prestigious final.

Both Standing Rock and the opposition team Flexjet came into Sunday’s final unbeaten from the previous two days of competition, with Flexjet’s Pelon Stirling - the former 10-goal Uruguayan player and the 10-times winner of the Argentine Open - proving difficult to defeat. However, Max Charlton opened the scoring for Standing Rock, and at half-time the team still retained a narrow half goal lead, 3-2.5, thanks to another goal by Charlton. In the second half of the game, Standing Rock’s determined teamwork including Nacho Gonzalez’s rock-solid defence enabled them to retain a lead of 4-3.5, and a converted penalty plus a last-minute goal from Most Valuable Player of the final, Raul Laplacette, cemented the victory for Standing Rock. 

The coveted Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz Trophy was presented to Standing Rock by FIP President Dr. Piero Dillier in front of the large and supportive crowd, providing a perfect end to the tournament.