By Alex Webbe
His love of the game is evident in his attitude on and off the field; his level of expertise has been documented in tournaments from his native Argentina to Belgium. In the United States Julio Ezcurra has plied his trade from New York to Palm Beach, using his rare gift of training polo ponies, organizing club and tournament competition and teaching the intricacies of the game to his employers.
Rated at an impressive 5-goals, Julio is one of the few foreign players who is looking to do more than come into town for the season for a paycheck and then hightail it home.
Julio has made a home for himself and his family here.
From his three years with Henry Alcalay in New York, Julio came down to Florida, the country’s polo capital, and played with Tennessee’s John Ingram where he helped lead the team to the finals of the 10-goal league and the Jimmy Bachman 12-goal league.
His team play and knowledge of the game proved to be an asset to every team with which he played. More importantly is his contribution to U. S. polo.
With only 29 of the Polo Association’s U. S. members rated at 5-goals or higher, the addition of Ezcurra to the rank and file of professional players and instructors is of paramount importance to the structure of polo in America today. The USPA claims a total membership of over 4,000 players, and its growth will hinge on being able to keep players of Ezcurra’s caliber.
With 99% of the American players rated at less than five goals, it is imperative that players like Ezcurra remain busy teaching and coaching up-and-coming players, and strengthening the backbone of polo in this country.
“I get great enjoyment out of seeing a player’s game improve after working with them for a while,” said Ezcurra. “I have made a great number of good friends in the U. S. over the years, and we have been lucky enough to make this our adopted home.”
Conisdered by teammates and opponents alike as one of the cream of the crop of professional players of his ability in the country, his unparalleled talents and leadership skills have assisted in teaching younger players the proper manners in which to produce, execute and deliver the support and managerial skills needed by the Association and the many clubs within it.
Julio and his wife Margarita are enjoying the warm winters of South Florida with son Julio, 9, and daughters Valentina, 3, and week-old Josephina. His commitment to polo is undeniable, his impact on the game and its growth in the United States is significant. His future prospects, unlimited.