Beard Championships: Day 3

From official Wondermark correspondent Pat Race, at the World Beard & Moustache Championships in Anchorage:

Thursday, May 21

Today is a down day, the calm before the beard storm. We picked up our press passes and wandered around town meeting moustaches and locals. In Alaska it’s hard to tell who is here to compete and who just trekked out of the woods to pick up some eggs and butter.

Lunch at Falafel King left bellies and beards filled with hummus and then it was off to Value Village to assemble the rest of Aaron’s outfit. Aaron [pictured above] is competing in the new Alaskan Whaler category and we found some good galoshes, wool pants, and suspenders to fill out his nautical look.

Judging is based on several factors – length, color, body, and hair style all factor into the decision and costumes, while not required, are a good way to frame and give context to the facial hair.

Judges this year include local hair experts, former beard champions, celebrity dog mushers, and past judges of local competitions.

It should be noted that the World Beard & Moustache championships are the largest and most renowned facial-hair competition, but just a few months ago, New York City also hosted its own Beard & Moustache Championships in Brooklyn, with amazing winners and even a video contest. Many of the competitors from the NYCBMC are have made their way to Anchorage as well, as members of Beard Team USA.

Beard Team USA is a national organization founded to promote the appreciation of beards and moustaches, and also to develop Team USA into a national bearded force that can be competitive with such international juggernauts as the Germans, the founders of the World Championships. In addition to coordinating national efforts (such as assembling Championship teams), Beard Team USA also maintains a list of regional chapters where beard enthusiasts gather around the country. My local group, The Bristly Chaps of Los Angeles, are even working on a documentary! Here’s the trailer.