Travel – Sporting Road

Big Sky Before the Storm

Big Sky and Vail are both massive, world-class ski destinations, but Big Sky Resort offers more vast, uncrowded terrain and rugged wilderness, while Vail Ski Resort provides an upscale, highly walkable European-style village and legendary groomed bowls.Size and TerrainBig Sky (Montana): Features about 5,850 skiable acres and the iconic Lone Peak Tram, making it slightly larger in total acreage than Vail. It is famous for wide-open steeps, chutes like the Big Couloir, and long, uninterrupted cruisers.Vail (Colorado): Spans around 5,289 skiable acres and is world-renowned for its massive, sweeping Back Bowls and endless intermediate cruising terrain.Crowds and VibeBig Sky$1684.6(4.0K)3-star hotelCallDirectionsWebsiteFeels much wilder, emptier, and more spread out. You will encounter significantly shorter lift lines and find untracked powder days long after a storm. We popped by Big Sky this past weekend and it reminds us a lot of Vail, but perhaps more like it was in the 1980's, unspoiled. Big Sky and Vail are both massive, world-class ski destinations, but Big Sky Resort offers more vast, uncrowded terrain and rugged wilderness, while Vail Ski Resort provides an upscale, highly walkable European-style village and legendary groomed bowls. Big Sky features about 5,850 skiable acres and the iconic Lone Peak Tram, making it slightly larger in total acreage than Vail. It is famous for wide-open steeps, chutes like the Big Couloir, and long, uninterrupted cruisers. Vail pans around 5,289 skiable acres and is world-renowned for its massive, sweeping Back Bowls and endless intermediate cruising terrain. Big Sky feels much wilder, emptier, and more spread out. You will encounter significantly shorter lift lines and find untracked powder days long after a storm. The Apsáalooke Crow and The Elk River is a collaborative pop-up art book detailing

By Sporting Road|August 27th, 2026|Categories: Travel|Comments Off

Everything in My Life Has a Story

Some people collect things. Some collect experiences. Some collect objects. Some, apparently, collect stories---and, sometimes those stories are contained experiences and objects, if not all of the time. Everything in my life seems to have a story attached to it. The old pair of boots. A bottle of perfume. A fly rod. A particular jacket. A photograph. A restaurant discovered years ago and never quite forgotten. An adventure. An experience travelling. Even the things that seem ordinary have a history if you pay enough attention. That may be what makes a life interesting. Not necessarily having unusual things, but being curious about the things you have. A well-worn object invites a question: Where did that come from? Why do you still have it? Who gave it to you? What happened when you were wearing it? And sometimes the answer is better than the object itself. In a world increasingly designed to make everything look new, disposable, and interchangeable, there is something quietly satisfying about having things with stories. They become little pieces of biography. They remind us where we've been, who we've known, and what mattered enough to keep. Maybe that's why everything becomes a conversation starter. Life leaves clues everywhere. You just have to notice them. And once you start noticing, almost anything can open a conversation, as things have stories and hopefully the items that your collect over time represent the stories of your life.

By Sporting Road|August 19th, 2026|Categories: Travel|Comments Off

Bridgette Bardot French Style

[French actress Brigitte Bardot was one of the best-known sex symbols of the 1950s and 1960s. PHOTO: Michel Bernanau (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Wikimedia Commons.] Sotogrande (Cádiz) is widely known as the capital of European polo. It features top-tier facilities like the Santa María Polo Club and private luxury estates like Polo Valley, drawing international elites, royals, and high-goal tournaments every August. If this is not your style, try the still chic but slightly shabby by comparison, the Deauville Polo Club in Normandy, France. In fairness, this historic seaside club hosts the famous Barrière Deauville Polo Cup and the prestigious Gold Cup (Coupe d’Or) every August, which draws everyone from the same crowds to play, spectate, or just be part of the lifestyle. Anyway, we were recently in Deauxville and couldn't help but think that Brigitte Bardot might have frequented the polo grounds there in her chic style, which if you look back on the photos of her, are all styles that have aged remarkably well and have spanned over 60 years. While she was not a polo player herself, Bardot was an avid equestrian and frequently mixed with high society during her peak fame in the 1960s and 1970s. She spent significant time in global jet-set hubs like Saint-Tropez and St. Moritz, both of which are deeply associated with elite polo culture. For instance, she attended high-profile social galas tied to the sport, such as a Polo Gala Dinner at Badrutt's Palace in St. Moritz. Additionally, the Polo Club Saint-Tropez regularly hosts major summer tournaments and parades in the very coastal town she famously transformed into a celebrity hotspot. Brigitte Bardot's deep, lifelong passion for horses evolved from a high-society equestrian hobby during

By Sporting Road|August 11th, 2026|Categories: polo, Style, Travel, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Oxfords from the Polo Field to Brooks Brothers and Ralph Lauren

I went to Brooks Brothers the other day. Yeah, I know, I thought that they had gone out of business. Brooks Brothers historically carried specialized equestrian and sporting gear, including riding, driving, and hunting apparel. Through the early-to-mid 20th century, their catalogs featured complete equipment and specialized trousers for the field and the horseman. Their catalog shows that they offered heavy-duty cotton and cavalry twill breeches designed specifically for riding, foxhunting, and polo matches. While the brand is famously tied to the origins of the button-down collar—inspired by polo players in England—they also supplied functional athletic wear and trousers for the sport itself. Here's more on the OCBD and it's ties to polo. The Oxford cloth button-down shirt, or OCBD, is one of menswear’s most enduring staples. It is uncomplicated by design—a soft Oxford-weave cotton shirt with a collar fastened by two small buttons—yet it carries more history and style credibility than almost any other everyday garment. Its origins lie not in the office or the Ivy League campus, but on the polo field. A Shirt Born from Polo In the late nineteenth century, polo players needed a practical solution to an irritating problem: their collar points would fly up while riding. The answer was simple. Button the collar down. The resulting shirt became known as the polo shirt. It was athletic clothing in the original sense—built for movement, comfort, and purpose—long before the term came to describe the short-sleeved knitted piqué shirt that dominates casualwear today. In 1896, John Brooks of Brooks Brothers saw this collar style during a visit to England. He recognized that it had potential far beyond sport. The button-down collar made a shirt look neat without requiring a tie, but still

By Sporting Road|August 6th, 2026|Categories: polo, Travel|Comments Off

Siena Bareback Horse Race

The Palio di Siena is a historic bareback horse race held twice each summer in the central square of Siena, Italy. It features ten horses and riders representing the city's neighborhoods, competing in a frantic 90-second sprint. First, on July 2: Known as the Palio di Provenzano, honoring the Madonna of Provenzano. Second on August 16: Known as the Palio dell'Assunta, honoring the Assumption of Mary. Siena is split into 17 historic neighborhoods or contrade, but only 10 compete in each race (7 automatically and 3 chosen by lot) and the race goes through the city's main sloping medieval square. It is transformed with a heavy layer of packed dirt and clay over the cobblestones. Jockeys ride bareback for three intense laps around the square, covering a total distance that takes roughly 90 seconds. Virtually anything goes during the scramble once the starting rope drops; jockeys can use their whips and hinder competitors. For a quick look at the incredible pageantry, crowds, and fast-paced chaos of the event in the main square, try this video from Rick Steves.

By Sporting Road|July 29th, 2026|Categories: Travel, Uncategorized|Comments Off

The Essential Guide to Chukkas, Jodhpurs, Paddocks, and Vellies

The Ankle Boot Masterclass: The Essential Guide to Chukkas, Jodhpurs, Paddocks, and Vellies Ankle-high boots are the ultimate foundation of a refined, versatile footwear wardrobe. Born from the fields of equestrian sport, military utility, and rugged wilderness exploration, four iconic short styles have stood the test of time: the Chukka boot, the Jodhpur boot, the Paddock boot (and it's sister boot the slip-on Chelsea), and the Veldskoen (Vellies). While they share a similar ankle-high silhouette, their distinct fastening methods, leather paneled construction, and structural personalities yield entirely different styling outcomes for differing conditions. The Shared History: From Polo Fields and Stables to Global Fashion All four styles trace their core lineages directly to equestrian activities, historical migrations, or the military, showcasing how functional utility transitions into everyday menswear. The Chukka's Evolution: Borrowing its name from a period of play in a polo match, Western travelers took this lightweight, open-laced design back to Europe. During WWII, it famously evolved into the "desert boot" utilizing pliable crepe rubber soles. The Clarks Desert Boot was created in 1949 by Nathan Clark, a descendant of the Clarks shoe dynasty, while serving in the British Army in Burma. He was inspired by off-duty officers wearing rough suede, crepe-soled boots purchased from the Khan el-Khalili bazaar in Cairo, Egypt. Nathan Clark took the design—which was originally derived from South African veldskoen ("vellies")—and made prototypes using newsprint. He brought the design back to England in 1946, but his family's board initially rejected the idea, claiming it would never sell. Undeterred, Clark presented the boots at the 1949 Chicago Shoe Fair, where an Esquire editor featured the lightweight, durable footwear. The boot officially launched in 1950. It quickly transcended its military roots, becoming

By Sporting Road|July 8th, 2026|Categories: Hunting, Travel|Comments Off

EU Golden Visa Hungary

Does Spain still offer a golden visa? Spain launched its residence by investment scheme in 2013. It allowed wealthy people from outside the EU to obtain residency permits on investing more than €500,000 in real estate or certain types of business. However, on Monday 8 April, the country's government said it plans to scrap the real estate route - which accounts for 94 per cent of applications - to reduce pressure on the housing market. The legal process for ending the visa is still underway. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the reform was part of his minority coalition government's push to make housing “a right, not a speculative business”. The government says some 10,000 such visas have been issued since the measure was brought into law in 2013 by a previous right-wing Popular Party government as a means to attract foreign investors. The visa can also be gained by starting certain types of business in Spain, holding company shares or bank deposits with a minimum value of €1 million in Spanish financial institutions, or making a government bonds investment of at least €2 million. Hungary golden visa scheme Bucking the trend, Hungary has announced plans to reintroduce its golden visa scheme on 1 July 2024, after having ended it back in 2017. The so-called Guest Investor Program (GIP) will offer three routes to residency, including through real estate investment (minimum €250,000), purchasing a residential property (minimum €500,000) or donating at least €1 million to a higher educational institution in the country. The visa is extended to the spouse and dependent children of the applicant and grants visa-free travel in the EU. Italy's golden visa scheme Italy is another popular destination for those looking to get residence by investment. Introduced in 2017,

By Sporting Road|June 19th, 2024|Categories: Travel|Comments Off

8 Colorado Hotels-Michelin Guide List

The Michelin Keys are to hotels what Michelin Stars are to restaurants. The Michelin Guide isn’t done with Colorado. Late last month, the venerated reviewer announced its inaugural list of Michelin Key hotel winners. (The designation is similar to what Michelin Stars are for restaurants.) In the United States, 124 outstanding hotels across the country were honored—including eight in the Centennial State, spread across Denver, Aspen, and Vail. Colorado’s winners all received one Michelin Key, denoting a “very special stay.” (Two keys represent an “exceptional stay,” and three keys signify an “extraordinary stay.”) Clayton Hotel & Members Club (Denver) Four Seasons Hotel Denver The Crawford Hotel (Denver) Hotel Jerome (Aspen) The Little Nell (Aspen) Mollie Aspen Four Seasons Vail Sonnenalp Hotel (Vail)

By Sporting Road|June 12th, 2024|Categories: Travel, Uncategorized|Comments Off

Zongzi at Dragon Boat Festival

Zongzi at Dragon Boat Festival: Significance and Preparation During the Dragon Boat Festival, zongzi, or sticky rice dumplings, take center stage in Chinese households, much like turkey during Christmas. This festival is often dubbed the Zongzi Festival or Rice Dumpling Festival due to its association with this iconic delicacy. On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month in the Chinese calendar, zongzi are ubiquitous. People exchange them as gifts and indulge in their delicious flavors. But why do people indulge in zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival, and how did this tradition originate? Zongzi are parcels of sticky rice with various fillings, wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. They come in different shapes and flavors, varying across different regions in China and beyond. Traditionally, zongzi boast either sweet or savory profiles. However, modern variations incorporate both sweet and savory elements. Why the Tradition of Eating Zongzi? Qu Yuan's Legacy The most renowned legend associated with the consumption of zongzi during the Dragon Boat Festival revolves around Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet from the state of Chu during the Warring States Period (475–221 BC). Qu Yuan, a loyal advisor to the Kingdom of Chu, was exiled for opposing the king's alliance with the state of Qin. Despite his exile, he remained devoted to his country and people, composing immortal poems such as "Li Sao" (The Lament). When Chu's capital fell to the state of Qin, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Miluo River on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month. Local villagers, unable to retrieve his body, threw jiaoshu (horn-shaped sticky rice dumplings) into the river to distract the fish from consuming Qu

By Sporting Road|May 28th, 2024|Categories: Travel|Comments Off

Route 66

Theree's nothing quite like hitting the open road during the beautiful summer months. Denverites looking to gain a new perspective can head out in any direction and be in a new state within a day.

By Sporting Road|July 12th, 2023|Categories: Travel, Uncategorized|Comments Off