ASPEN — The first couple of polo, champion player Nacho Figueras and his wife, Argentine businesswoman and equestrian Delfina Blaquier, cut a fine figure on horseback as they kicked off the 11th annual World Snow Polo Championship in Aspen last weekend with an impromptu pre-match photocall and ride on the snow-covered pitch at Rio Grande Park.
Figueras, the world’s most famous polo player, who captains the St. Regis team, attracted a well-heeled crowd of celebrities and locals to watch the sport under the bright Rocky Mountain skies. He has been a longtime brand ambassador for the hotel group. St. Regis has a long association with polo, dating back to its founding family, the Astors, who were a fixture at the polo matches on Manhattan’s Governor’s Island in the early 1900s.
“It’s been over 15 years now that Nacho has been a part of the St. Regis family and it’s been a natural relationship. The Astors really loved polo because it brought people together to enjoy celebratory moments,” said Jenni Benzaquen, senior vice president of St. Regis Hotels & Resorts.
While Figueras played, Balquier joined revelers at the VIP tents lining the pitch wearing a long shearling duster from Colorado native Lindsey Thornburg that she picked up the night before in Aspen. She paired it with black pants and Gucci sneakers. “I have to be comfortable, that’s absolutely number one for me,” she said. “I can’t be dealing with heels digging into the ground or super tight clothes that you can’t breathe in. Those days are done for me. What I’ve learned is when you are comfortable, you look your best and shine from the inside.”
The glamorous spectators at the annual Aspen tradition were dressed in mountain chic ensembles, from Chanel moon boots to beaver felt cowboy hats. Guests inside the VIP tents were treated to free-flowing Champagne, an extensive raw bar and three variations of bloody marys, the St. Regis’ signature drink. In the tents, the hotel recreated the cozy chalet vibe of their nearby St. Regis Aspen Resort, complete with an appearance from Kitty, the hotel’s resident Berenese Mountain dog. Guests, including snowboarding star Shaun White and girlfriend, actress Nina Dobrev, took turns having a cuddle with the gentle giant.
White was in a light mood, having recently retired from competing and turning his eye to fashion. He said his namesake brand, Whitespace, is “still very much in start-up mode” after only one year since launching. “The goal is to make clothes you can wear about town like here, but they have the capabilities to use on the mountain.” He said he recently added womenswear, buoyed by Dobrev’s requests. “She is a huge snowboarder. I’m thrilled we did it.”
Dobrev and White hung out on the sidelines of the pitch with friends Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber, who turned heads when they slid into the downtown Aspen park to watch the match. Actress Anna Kendrick was also spotted in the tents with Aspen Polo Club owners Marc and Melissa Ganzi.
The mood was festive after the charity match ended, with guests lingering to enjoy the atmosphere. Blaquier said she and Figueras and their four children planned to stay in Aspen through Christmas. “I haven’t actually made our Christmas dinner plans yet, but everyone is saying I should book,” she said with a laugh.
