People, TravelPowder ByrneJanuary 11, 2022polo valley, Polo, spain, sotogrande, challenge

The Polo Challenge

People, TravelPowder ByrneJanuary 11, 2022polo valley, Polo, spain, sotogrande, challenge

New Year, New Challenge.

Polo Valley are searching for six highly-driven and motivated individuals who are ready to push their bodies and minds to the limit in a rigorous two-week training programme, learning one of the most exciting and seductive sports in the world. The Polo Challenge has been carefully designed to take selected candidates from complete novices to official polo players in just two weeks.

Participants will learn to ride and play polo from scratch under the instruction of world class polo professionals, with full support from a team of personal trainers, nutritionists and physiotherapists. Ultimately they will have to battle it out against each other in a professional match on the championship polo fields of Sotogrande, playing at the height of summer in front of the glamorous crowds that gather to get a glimpse of the sport of kings.

Three Powder Byrne clients have already completed the Polo Challenge. Check out this video to get a feel for the action and to hear first hand from two of last years candidates (including one Powder Byrne client!) about their experience:

The Polo Challenge would suit those up for a challenge and who are prepared to be thrown in at the very deep-end and learn one of the most unique sports in the world.

To get through the two-week programme participants will have to overcome mental and physical barriers, and with four hours of saddle time per day, galloping horses at 35 miles per hour, whilst swinging a polo mallet elegantly towards the ball, The Polo Challenge is not for the faint hearted. It will instead appeal to ambitious, highly motivated and competitive individuals who are ready to discover a completely new chapter and who will not back away from this once in a lifetime opportunity.

WEEK ONE: 13th - 21st June 2022

WEEK TWO: 18th - 26th July 2022

GAME DAY: Saturday 25th July 2022

This intensive training programme will fully immerse participants into the life of a polo player. Six hand-picked candidates will learn and play together during week 1. In week 2 candidates will split into two teams and train separately with each team managed by their mentor, polo professional and team captain.

Participants should be prepared for early morning sunrise yoga sessions, hour-long riding drills followed by polo tuition and practice games. They can then cool off in an ice bath after some fitness for polo and in the evening head to the heart of the stables for a late night asado-style bbq with the rest of the team to reflect on the days experience and all that’s been achieved. Wednesday of week 1 and week 2 will be blocked off as rest and recovery days, where participants will be booked in for pre-scheduled physiotherapy sessions, leaving the afternoons free to enjoy a round of golf or simply relax and switch off at one of the nearby beach clubs.

This once in a lifetime experience, lifting the lid on the world of polo, will change your outlook on life. One will finally understand why this sport has been kept a secret, enjoyed by royals and a select lucky few for so long.