The echo of metal-plated horse hooves on ice. The distant yet anxious chatter of onlookers. Snow falling and gently coating eyelashes. These are part of the experience of watching a match at the Bendura Bank Snow Polo World Cup in Kitzbuhel. Polo is taken to the next level as the players and horses maneuver atop a frozen lake that replaces the usual dirt ground. Snow polo is a new element to the luxury Austria that only a few can experience.

A ski holiday in Kitzbuhel comprises luxurious chalets, snow polo tournamnets and apres-ski festivities. The Snow Polo World Cup is the perfect excuse to escape to the snow slopes and indulge in all that the Medieval town has to offer. Every January, eight international teams of polo players and over 15,000 spectators join in Kitzbuhel to watch who will become the new World Cup champion. Stakes are high as the frozen playing ground adds an intense risk to the game.

Kitzbuehel Polo was established in 2003 with the first Snow Polo Tournament. Polo event organizers Reto and Tito Gaudenzi were the ones to bring Polo to Austria. What started off as a tournament with only four teams and just over 1,000 spectators has now grown to welcome over 15,000 fans to the “world’s largest polo tournament on snow .” Ponies in warm clothing carry four players on a frozen lake barricaded from spectators. Onlookers start to chant, yell and internally pray for their favorite team to win. If lucky, the match will be played with a slight snowfall and fog that adds to the intensity of the game, as the last minutes start to countdown and the score is close. The white powdery snow makes the sport look almost magical as the ponies sprint up and down at the command of the player.

On day one of the tournament, a parade of team- adorned with the logos and colors of their luxury brand sponsors with marques such as Maserati, Corum, and Laurent-Perrier, teams – saunters past throngs onlooking fans.  In the evening, a welcome party follows at the Casino Kitzbuehel where players,  sponsors,  and the European elite  mix and mingle. The Casino Kitzbuhel is an exslusie casino tucked away in a quaint  Austrian village with an aire of Monte Carlo in the Alps.

On the day of the final match, after the winner is announced, a red-carpet gala is hosted at the Kitzbuhel Country Club. The winning team, tournament stakeyholders and the European jet set in glittering gowns and bespoke attire pose for pictures  for the paparazzi as if they were the hot new celeb at the Cannes Film Festival.  The formal and exclusive event illuminates the influence of snow polo on the affluent society. The night ends in traditional apres style, with rhythmic music, endless cocktails and celebration. Here the silver plated winning trophy, along with special recognitions are bestowed in a most posh affair.

In snow polo, the ponies are just as important than the players. For the safety of these beautiful animals, the ponies can only be used twice during a game and have to wear special horeshoes named cogs and booties to help with the cold of the snow. The booties do little to muffle the echo of their hooves hiting the slippery, frozen lake that echoes across the pit.

Kitzbuehel is among the most sought after ski destinations in Austria. Luxurious Austrian ski resorts are located just outside of town with access to the multiple ski lifts and slopes that connect with the neighboring village, Kirchberg. The Hotel Elisabeth Tirol is a partner of the Kitzbuhel Snow Polo World Cup and offers a luxury stay for players and visitors. Located in Kirchberg, near the Polo grounds, Elisabeth offers rest and relaxation for the polo athletes through the Elisabeth day spa and wellness retreats.   Also, the hotel offers seasonal excursions detailed to a guest’s needs like ski tours and hiking recommendations.    Another favorite resting place for attendees is the equally luxurious Grand Tirolia Kitzbuehel  which offers a full service spa.

Being one of the popular ski destinations in Austria, Kitzbuhel offers the famous European ski experience known for the Alps and year-long winter climate but also offers a luxury holiday at one of the many Austrian ski resorts where elites can go off the grid as they bet on snow polo teams and enjoy self-care.

There’s nothing more exciting than the trill of the horse and skilled rider in competition and to add the element of snow makes it all the more thrilling.  The Bendura Bank Snow Polo World Cup in Kitzbuehel is the largest and most exciting equestrian tournament in Europe. Thousands of spectators travel across the globe to Austria to be able to witness such a lively sport. It is the perfect mix of a winter holiday vacation and a large sports outing.