A Hair Raising Good Time
Sporting facial hair is rarely considered an extreme sport, but things got a little “hairy” in Anchorage on May 23rd as hundreds of spectators turned up to witness the 9th World Beard and Moustache Championships (WBMC). Over 300 competitors from 15 different countries competed at this year’s event.
The WBMC were started in the early 90‘s by Germany’s First Hoefener Beard Club. Since 1995, the championships have been held every two years, and with the exception of the 2003 championships in Carson City, Nevada, have been held in Europe.
The competition is divided into 17 categories: eight styles of mustaches, four varieties of partial beard or goatee and five kinds of full beards. Each category has a first, second and third place finisher. The 17 first place finishers then compete for the top three spots overall. The rest of the competitors who didn’t place in the top three receive a “4th place” certificate, which I thought was rather clever.
By definition, a beard refers to the facial hair on the lower part of a man’s chin, while a moustache is hair on and around the upper lip. A partial beard refers to a beard that doesn’t connect to a moustache and a full beard is a beard where the moustache is blended in, or connects. 
Moustache styles include: “Wild West” (large and bushy, hairs combed from the middle of the upper lip to the sides), “Dali” (slender, with the tips curved upward) and “Imperial” (small and bushy with the tips curving upward) among others. Partial beard styles include: “Musketeer” (narrow chin beard that comes to a point, moustache narrow, long and slightly curved) and “Sideburn” (must be a true sideburn, no natural or shaven gap by the ear) among others. Full beard styles include: “Verdi” (short and round at the bottom, no longer than 10 cm below bottom of lower lip) and “Garibaldi” (beard round and wide at the bottom, moustache must be connected but not prominent). Each main category has a “natural” and “free” style competition. In the “natural” category, one can’t use any sort of aids to style their beard. In the “free style” category one can do anything they want with their beard or mustache, the crazier the better!
The enthusiasm that came along with the facial hair was like nothing I have ever seen before. Not just from the participants, but from the crowd as well. Many people had traveled from out of the state and country to support their favorite bearded fellows and there was a lot of cheering and chanting going on at all times. Being unable to grow facial hair didn’t deter the women and children’s enthusiasm, they donned fake facial hair to be able to fit right in.
Many of the men were dressed in elaborate costumes, often ones that went along with their beard theme. At any point in the evening, one could look out into the auditorium and spot various musketeers, lumberjacks, and vikings. My favorite costume of the evening was a guy who dressed as a gnome, toadstool and all!
A new category was introduced this year to honor the competition being held in Alaska. The “Alaskan Whaler” is a traditional Alaskan seafarer’s beard with bushy hair grown on the cheeks, chin and lower lip and no hair grown on the upper lip. All three top prizes in this new category went to Alaskans.
Wondering how those moustaches hold their form, or how a beard can be folded and swirled into the shape of a snowshoe? Contestants, following event rules that dictate which categories allow for the use of products, spend a great amount of time nurturing their precious tresses. Competitors will spend hours and hours combing and styling their beards, using hair dryers, curling irons, and occasionally products like wax or gels. 
Some guys call on the women in their life for product tips, while others use their own imagination. One contestant I chatted with used jello to mold his funky moustache!
It is safe to say that the Natural Full Beard category is the most revered and popular. This category allows for no use of product and the longer and fuller, the better. With over 140 participants in this year’s event, it is also the most competitive. Defending champion, Jack Passion, took home the coveted title once again. While Jack’s beard is most definitely something to be admired, the real shocker in his story is that he is only 25 years old. (He was 23 when he initially won the title in ’07.) Some contestants joked that they have been growing their beards longer than Jack has even been alive!
The big winner of this year’s competition was Anchorage’s own David Traver. Traver got into facial hair competition locally about 10 years ago with the Mr. Fur Face competition during Fur Rendezvous. After his win there, he got involved in the South Central Alaska Beard and Moustache Club. David, with the help of his “beard stylist”, wove his 20.5 inch beard into the shape of a snowshoe. Initially he won 1st place in the Full Beard Freestyle competition, and then went on to win it all.
It’s not too late to start grooming your own facial hair for the 10th World Beard and Moustache Championships. They are to be held in Trondheim, Norway in 2011!
