1/7/2023
By: Elisabeth Brigham Pages 106-107
Stomping The Divots
From the world of Wellington to local lingo, here is our ultimate guide to the 2023 polo season.
Welcome to Wellington, the Palm Beaches’ equestrian mecca, compete with 57 miles of trails, privately owned show grounds and polo fields, two large sporting venues and so much more. Each year, the biggest names in polo (think Adolfo Cambiaso, Facundo Pieres and Hilario Ulloa) make their way to the pitch for an impressive lineup of events that start in January and lead up to the prestigious U.S. Open Polo Championship® in April. At the heart of it all is the USPA National Polo Center (NPC) – Wellington. A home for established and up-and-coming players, NPC showcases first-rate facilities including five fields, the grandstand and pavilion, the Mallet Grille, a clubhouse and social club, swimming pool, gym and tennis courts. The United States Polo Association (uspolo.org) hosted last year’s XII FIP World Polo Championship for the first time in the tournament’s illustrious history, as well as the three-tournament polo series, the Gauntlet of Polo®.
Outside of the sport, Wellington stands tall on its own with a surplus of hot sports that support its luxe lifestyle. Just 15 miles from the beach- and an hour from Miami- the village features a vibrant social life overflowing with restaurants and shopping for all. “Because Wellington equestrian culture has attracted families not only seasonally but year-round, there’s a local business benefit to this,” says Michela Green, executive director of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. “All of us understand the important role each of us plays in making Wellington the winter equestrian capital of the world. This didn’t happen without a lot of hard work.”
Not sure what to wear? U.S. Polo Assn. (uspoloassn.com) has you covered. As the official brand of the USPA and official apparel sponsor of the XII FIP World Polo Championship (not to mention having been the official apparel sponsor of the Federation of International Polo since 2015), U.S. Polo Assn. sports its own style at every event. Just last year the brand launched its White Label collection, featuring a neutral color palette infused with pops of color for a versatile athleisure look that can be dressed up and down. “For the launch of White Label, we have focused exclusively on the basic, core elements of the classic American wardrobe but with premium materials and styling,” says Design Director Curt Wagner. “The White Label collection is our take on American classics with a cause ease and comfort that stays true to the brand.”
More recently, the brand has released its Winter 2022 collection, perfect for those first few chilly spring events. The collection includes a colorful assortment of outerwear, from puffer jackets and vests to flannel layers, long-sleeved polo shirts, fleece separates and more. SVP of Brand and Product Development Brain Kaminer shares, “We want to bring joy and cheer to the season by making a statement with bright and bold outerwear.” He continues, “Winter/Holiday 2022 offers a fresh take on classic American styling to consumers throughout the holidays and into the new year.” With the season heating up, gear up for the next tournament and support your favorite athletes in style.
LOCAL LINGO:
Chukker: A period of play within a game, a chukker is seven and half minutes long. In high tournaments there are six chukkers per match. In the FIP World Polo Championships, there are four chukkers in qualifying rounds and five chukkers in semifinal and final rounds.
Handicap: All registered polo players are rated on a scale of 1 to 10 (the higher the number, the better). The handicap of the team is the sum rating of its players.
Line of the Ball: “Crossing the line” is the most frequent foul in polo. The line of the ball (the imaginary line along which the ball travels) represents a right of way for the player following nearest that line.
Polo pony: A polo pony is a horse that has been trained specifically for the sport. Unique identifiers of a polo pony while competing include a shaved mane and braided tail. A player has the option to switch ponies at least once per chukker to give the horses rest.
Ride-off: Two riders may make contact and push each other of the line to prevent the other team from striking the ball. It is primarily intended for the ponies to do the pushing, but players are allowed to use their body but not their elbows.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
NPC Inaugural Cup Final (16-Goal): Jan. 1
Joe Barry Memorial (16-Goal): Jan. 4-22
Ylvisaker Cup (16-Goal): Jan. 20- Feb. 12
C.V. Whitney Cup® (18-22-Goal): Feb. 12-26
USPA Junior Open Final (12-14-Goal): Feb. 19
USPA Gold Cup® (18-22-Goal): Mar. 1-26
U.S. Open Women’s Polo Championship® (18-24-Goal): Mar. 9-19
Westchester Cup® (USA vs. England): Mar. 31
U.S. Open Polo Championship® (22-Goal): Mar. 29- Apr. 23
Florida Circuit 16-Goal Series Championship (16-Goal): Apr. 5-9
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