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102 SIDELINES APRIL 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE P O L O

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Five Questions For Jason Crowder

By Danika Rice

From the Golden Coast of California to the sunny shores of Florida, Jason Crowder’s journey coincides completely with what he already attributes to as home. Sunshine and beaches, horses and polo are all a continuous staple in the life of this 27 year old. Raised in Santa Barbara, California and surrounded by it’s notable 20-goal summer season, Jason is now spending his frst winter season playing on the opposite coast, competing in the International Polo Club’s 20-goal tournament series (the Herbie Penell Cup, Joe Barry Memorial, Ylvisaker Cup and Ingelhart Cup) with Scott Woods’ ERG team, as well as taking part in the 14-goal tournament series with long time childhood friend Julian Mannix. From the ranks of pee-wee polo competitions that began at the age of seven, Jason’s career has skyrocketed and has set him as a cornerstone in the California Polo Circuit, playing consistently for years in Indio, San Diego and Santa Barbara. In 2001, he was named to Team USA in the Federation of International Polo World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, and again in 2004 to represent his country in Chantilly, France. Coming off a notable performance in the 2010 Pacifc Coast Open Championship where he played with Adolfo Cambiaso as part of the winning Lucchese Polo Team, Sidelines caught up with Jason in Wellington, to refect on the past year and what it meant to play with the world’s best in his hometown.

Sidelines: Who has been your biggest infuence, on or off the polo feld?

JC: My dad Steve. From coaching, training horses to playing, he’s been a part of it all from the beginning. He has been involved with so many different areas of polo, he’s always got advice to give no matter what situation I’m asking about.

Sidelines: What would you say is the most memorable polo game you played and why?

JC: It would have to be the Pacifc Coast Open Finals. It’s the biggest tournament in California, was played in my hometown with my friends and family there, and I got to play it with the best polo player in the world, Adolfo Cambiaso. There’s not much more you can ask for than that. When you get the chance to play with teammates that make you a better player, everything becomes that much more important, that much more memorable.

Sidelines: What was the best part of playing with Adolfo? JC: How calm and cool he stays no matter what happens on the feld, no matter the situation. From the very frst time I met him, he just made me feel like I’d known him forever. On the feld that translated to a great team dynamic, because I was already so comfortable with him.

Sidelines: Just this year, you’ve won the Pacifc Coast Open, played with Adolfo Cambiaso and have already been named Most Valuable Player in Wellington’s 20 goal series. What is the next career goal you hope to accomplish?

JC: I’d like to one day win the U.S. Open. It’s the top tournament in the U.S., and if you’re playing professionally, you always want to win the biggest tournament. I’ve loved polo since I was a kid, and growing up playing in California was always great. But now, getting the chance to play in Wellington, I get to play at a higher level and continue to better myself and my skills. So now, I want to work each day on playing the best polo I can. And hopefully that will eventually give me the chance to play the [U.S.] Open.

Sidelines: If you could play with anyone of your choosing, who would you play with and where would you go?

JC: I would go to Argentina and play with Cambiaso there. Top horses, top players, great felds. There’s so much to learn, and when you’re there you learn from the best.