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the quaint MedievaL viLLage of KitzbüheL, austria,
is normally a pleasantly low-key respite from its busy neighbor to
the north, salzburg, but on Jan. 15-18, the town's population will
nearly triple for the 13th annual Valartis Bank snow polo world
Cup.
upwards of 12,000 polo fans, celebrities and outdoor enthu-
siasts descend upon the village to watch high goal teams from
around the world battle it out for bragging rights on Kitzbühel's
pristine packed-powder field.
snow polo's popularity has risen since its inception in the
mid-1980s in st. moritz, switzerland, and today many european
competitions are lavish affairs that include galas, musical perfor-
It's a far cry from the
palm-encircled fields
to which most polo fans
are accustomed, but the
setting in Kitzbühel is a
breathtaking spectacle.
