Why Buy Dry?
How Poligras’ latest play wet / play dry turf technology is moving hockey forward everywhere
The FIH Men’s Olympic Qualifiers and Hockey5s World Cup in Oman will experience the best of both worlds.
In January, Oman plays host to two prestigious hockey tournaments – the Men's Olympic Qualifiers and the Hockey5s World Cup. Both events will showcase a single ground-breaking turf: Polytan’s Poligras Paris GT Zero.
Olympic Qualifiers play wet
The Men's Olympic Qualifiers, held from 15 to 21 January in Muscat, Oman, will feature teams from eight nations (Canada, China, Chile, Germany, Great Britain, Malaysia, New Zealand and Pakistan). The tournament will take place on a lightly irrigated pitch, delivering an Olympic-quality surface that will give the world’s best players a taste of what to expect from the field of play at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the European summer.
Hockey5s World Cup plays dry
The following week, thanks to its remarkable versatility, the turf will seamlessly transition to a fully dry pitch for the first-ever Hockey5s World Cup from 24 to 31 January, where 16 men’s and 16 women’s teams from around the world will battle it out to be crowned the inaugural men’s and women’s champions of this dynamic and super-fast format.
Like Oman, clubs everywhere can have the best of both worlds
This double showcase will demonstrate how the Poligras Paris GT Zero turf provides the best of both worlds for hockey players and enthusiasts.
The innovative, state-of-the-art playing surface not only meets the professional standards for both wet and dry play but also delivers the unique advantage of providing an Olympic upgrade when atmospheric moisture (i.e., dew or light rain) is present. Without irrigation, the pitch meets the standards for a National Category 3 turf (the requirement for national league hockey).
“The turf requires minimal water for Olympic-quality performance, which not only saves water but also provides flexibility for clubs to consciously decide whether to water for training sessions, junior matches and different levels of competition.”
A smart choice for clubs
The Poligras Paris GT Zero turf’s unique 'play wet/play dry' crossover performance is enhanced by Turf Glide, a proprietary friction-reducing technology that enhances play when dry, meets FIH Innovation standards, and also reduces the need for frequent watering to maintain elite hockey standards.
Poligras Paris GT Zero is the smart choice for hockey clubs looking for a performance upgrade, as many locations around the world will benefit from atmospheric moisture, such as light rain or dew on a cool night, which will be enough to transform the turf to an Olympic-level surface.
Why should clubs buy dry?
For hockey clubs, the Poligras Paris GT Zero turf brings multiple benefits:
Innovation: The turf offers Olympic quality when wet, surpassing sand-dressed fields when dry.
Versatility: With pioneering Turf Glide technology, the turf requires minimal water for Olympic-quality performance, which not only saves water but also provides flexibility for clubs to consciously decide whether to water for training sessions, junior matches and different levels of competition.
Carbon Zero: Poligras Paris GT Zero is the world's first and only carbon-zero hockey turf. Made with 80% biobased sugarcane and powered by green energy during manufacturing, it provides unrivalled environmental sustainability benefits.
Cost Saving: Removing the need for frequent irrigation reduces both environmental and financial costs for clubs
Availability: The turf is available worldwide, making it accessible for clubs aiming to enhance their playing experience.
Proven Performance: Installations worldwide (including Australia, England, Germany, France, India, Oman, Namibia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, South Africa and USA) provide the proof clubs have been waiting for and illustrate the success and reliability of the Poligras Paris GT Zero turf.
As Manoj Daji QSM, CEO of Auckland Hockey explains:
"Our Poligras Paris GT zero turf plays very well when dry – significantly better than a sand-dressed field. When wet, it is a top-quality pitch enjoyed by our best players. There have been many days, especially in winter this year, when we haven’t turned on the irrigation, saving us money but not detracting from the playing experience."
Hockey clubs can embrace the future, today
Poligras Paris GT Zero turf is redefining the playing experience for hockey clubs worldwide. As clubs across the world continue to strive for performance and environmental excellence, our next generation turf is setting new standards for hockey surface performance. The global hockey community will be able to see the turf in action in Oman later this month. It is a sign of the future but also the ‘now’ for forward-thinking clubs.
Poligras Hockey Turf. Chosen for 8 Olympics and 7 World Cups.
Poligras is available globally through Polytan in EMEA, Asia Pacific and Australasia, and AstroTurf in North and South America as well as our global installer network.