NEWS

Winter season in the desert brought an influx of talented instructors to Indio, California. Among this group were 10 instructors working towards their USPA Certified Polo Instructor (CPI) Certification. Through the course of two Certification Field Tests, the CPI Program is proud to announce 10 new Certified Instructors.

A big congratulations to Kirsten Ludwig, Ismael Molina, Jeffrey Rewald, Carlos Galindo, Stacey Galindo, Marcos Llambias, Nicolas Maciel, Juan Martin Gutierrez, Ernie Ezcurra and Marcial Socas.

Each group spent three days testing over a myriad of material including three mounted lessons, one chalk talk presentation, and one mock-coaching chukker. Prior to this event, each instructor attended an Instructor Skilz Clinic to prepare for their testing.

Former 6-goal player and Certified Instructor Marcos Llambias shared, “the CPI program was a great experience for me. I learned amazing techniques and tools for better teaching, and in a more professional way. The skills we learned and the certification will help me in my career teaching polo.”

Certifiers Cindy Halle of Maryland Polo Club (Jarrettsville, Maryland) and Scott Weir of Toronto Polo Club (Markham, Ontario) were present for both certifications along with the programs newest Certifier, Tiger Kneece, who was certified in the Fall of 2017. A former 7-goal player and U.S. Open Polo Championship® winner, Kneece is currently running a polo school at Aiken Polo Club in Aiken, South Carolina.

Together, these two Certification Field Tests have tipped the scale making the Pacific Coast Circuit the highest concentration of Certified and Honorary instructors with 25 in the circuit. "We are delighted to have added 10 new Certified Polo Instructors to our current list of 15 instructors qualified in the USPA Pacific Coast Circuit," said Danny Walker, Pacific Coast Circuit Governor. "We believe that having CPIs at our clubs available to assist new members and patrons as they comprehend and learn the sport of polo is an excellent avenue to gain new membership, create safe polo players and encourage future patrons. Growth in polo is required as a future guarantee to the livelihood of our sport and with CPIs this opportunity of new growth provides us the best chance for success.”

A special thank you to Empire Polo Club (Indio, California), California Polo Club (Sylmar, California), and Wrightway Polo (Menlo Park, California) for making the events possible. For more information about the Certified Polo Instructor Program please contact Jess Downey at jdowney@uspolo.org.