Interview with Nacho Figueras
Nacho Figueras, Captain of Black Watch
Nacho Figueras playing in the 2010 Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, Los Angeles
Veuve Clicquot talks with Nacho Figueras, Captain of the Black Watch team and co-host of the event, about the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic.
What makes polo one of the world's most unique sports?
Polo is an amazing and thrilling sport that combines great athletes with the most amazing creature in the world, the horse.
You've played for four years in New York, and this is your second year participating in the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic in Los Angeles. What does this event mean to you?
To me, the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic is the revival of what polo used to be in the 20s and 30s; the real history and glamour of polo in Los Angeles. I think this event catapults the sport to an entirely different level.
What was it like bringing the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic to Los Angeles for the first time last year?
It was thrilling to partner with Veuve Clicquot to bring this amazing event to the west coast. We host it at the beautiful Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades, which has the last remaining polo field in Los Angeles. The inaugural event in 2010 drew thousands of people, and we're confident it will do the same this year. We’re also proud that the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic, Los Angeles, will be a fundraiser for the Will Rogers State Historic Park, which is desperately in need of funding to remain open.
How did you get started playing polo?
I started playing polo when I was 9 years old on my farm in Argentina, thanks to my father's passion and dedication for it. I was very lucky to have the Monteverde family to learn from at the beginning and Gonzalo Pieres as a mentor.
For those unfamiliar with polo, can you briefly describe how the game is organized and played?
Polo is played by four players against four players during four or six different periods called chukkers, which are seven minutes each. We change horses in every period and the team that scores the most goals wins the game.
When is your favorite time to enjoy a flute of Veuve Clicquot?
It is always good to enjoy a great glass of Veuve Clicquot but my favorite excuse is to have it to celebrate winning a tournament!