It’s no secret that Airstreamers share a love of the great outdoors, and that passion for summertime recreation extends even to the owners of the company.
Peter Orthwein is best known as co-founder and Chairman of Thor Industries, which has been Airstream’s parent company since 1980. What you may not know is that his leadership talents extend far beyond the world of Airstream - he’s also an accomplished polo player who has been competing in this dynamic sport for over 50 years.
A national champion and team captain while playing at Cornell, Orthwein has played in tournaments all over the world. Read through his extensive list of accolades and you’ll learn he’s played in tournaments like the prestigious Royal Windsor Tournament, Queen’s Cup, Gold Cup, and U.S. Open tournaments.
In 1984, Orthwein’s passions became one when he formed the Airstream team, named, of course, after the iconic and beloved travel trailers, with players Michey Tarnopol, Alfonso Pieres, and Cristian LaPrida.
That year, they competed in the East Coast Open for the first time, an annual polo tournament hosted by the Greenwich Polo Club which dates back to 1905. It wouldn’t be their last appearance – in fact, they have competed every year since.
This year will be no different. The late-August event, hosted by the United States Polo Association and Greenwich Polo Club in partnership with Audi of America, will feature seven other teams from all over the world.
Over the years, you could say the Greenwich Polo Club has become something of a second home to Orthwein. He was recognized for his contributions to the sport and his support of the event last year, when the Club rededicated one of their polo fields in his name.
Airstream fanatics can cheer the team to victory – games will be played over the course of three consecutive Sundays beginning August 28, with live stream available for viewing at ChukkerTV.com. The championship match will be televised one week after the conclusion of the tournament on NBC Sports Network (September 17, 5 pm eastern). The coverage will feature game action, behind-the-scenes commentary, and in-depth interviews.
Photography by Chichi Ubin
