TEAM FLEXJET GETS READY TO CONTEST THE SNOW POLO WORLD CUP 2023
January 23, 2023
As the final countdown to the 38th Snow Polo World Cup commences, we’re preparing to welcome Flexjet aircraft Owners and guests to one of the world’s most spectacular and thrilling sports events, which draws world-class polo teams and spectators from all over the world, to the iconic location of St. Moritz, Switzerland each January.
This year Flexjet is a team sponsor, with one of the six elite polo teams sporting the Flexjet jersey as they take to the field, situated uniquely on the frozen lake of St. Moritz. We’ll be proudly cheering them on, as they battle for the much-coveted trophy in front of a sellout crowd, when the tournament begins on Friday 27th January.
MEET TEAM FLEXJET
Captain of Team Flexjet, Daniel Deistler enjoyed watching polo from a young age, but his passion was truly ignited in 2014 when he sat on a polo pony for the first time in Argentina. There he invested in horses and began training back in his native Germany. He is now seen regularly at international high-class medium and high goal polo tournaments and was the winner of the Medium Goal Championship in 2021.
Patrick Maleitzke is a fellow German and became a national polo champion at the age of just 18. Since then, he has played extensively across the world and on all surfaces. He was vice champion for Germany in Baku, Azerbaijan, has been voted best player in the Cowdray Gold Cup in England, and has also carried home the trophy from the snow polo in Cortina.
Clément Delfosse lives in Paris, but originates from Aix-en-Provence, where he began playing polo as a child, alongside his brother. Aged just 14, the siblings were part of the French team in the 2002 European Championships in Rome, and Clément went on to play in the UK’s Queens Cup and other prestigious European polo events, in addition to tournaments across the world including in Argentina, Chile, Thailand, India and the U.S.
Fellow French player Patrick Paillol comes from a family of high-performing equestrians and has played polo for 25 years. He began at a small club close to Paris before moving to Chantilly, home of the biggest polo school in France. He has won the Open de Paris four times, including most recently in 2022, as well as collecting trophies at Deauville, Chantilly and the snow polo in Kitzbuhel.
What do you enjoy most about snow polo and what makes The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz particularly unique?
DD: The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz is the most famous snow polo tournament in the world. It’s simply unique – where else can you play polo on a frozen lake?! It will be my first time playing there and I can’t wait.
PP: I am a big fan of snow polo, the feeling of riding horses on snow is just a dream and it’s a challenge to control the ball, which is very light. The World Cup in St. Moritz is a wonderful event which attracts large crowds, it’s truly the best snow polo event in the world.
CD: There is so much adrenaline, it’s a very special atmosphere!
Can you tell us a little about your training & preparations for snow polo versus other surfaces? Do you also prepare the horses in a different way?
PP: You need to consider the low temperatures and the altitude. For me, this includes running in the mountains, to acclimatise to the conditions in St. Moritz.
CD: Yes, cardio fitness for both players and horses is especially important, as it can be more challenging to take in the oxygen you need.
DD: And riding is muscle training for the whole body, as the body adapts to the movements of the horse.
PM: Over the winter we adapt the horses’ training to include an indoor training machine, which enables us to build up their fitness and condition to a high level.
What will Team Flexjet bring to the tournament that the others don’t? What do you think of your prospects this year and your rival teams?
PM: There are strong teams this year. I’ve already played against many and know their style. That can be a big advantage. Our team is really looking forward to it and has been training hard to win the trophy.
PP: All the teams are strong and well organised, so the games will be tough and hard. But as a team we have a lot of experience playing on snow; a very positive team spirit and we want to win!
CD: We each bring something different to the field but also work well as a team. We are looking to surprise the others!
HIGH PERFORMANCE & EXCEPTIONAL STYLE
At Flexjet we share a passion for standout performance and style with our elite polo team. Offering the ultimate way to arrive in St. Moritz, our European fleet includes the super-midsize Praetor 600 and ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650.
While St. Moritz is several hours by road or train from the closest commercial airports in Zurich or Milan, Flexjet aircraft Owners can fly in and out of Samedan (LSZS), a dedicated private jet airport just minutes away.
To discover more about our European fleet and programmes, contact our team using the form below or call us on +44 (0) 203 856 8151.
