In Pursuit of the Hirsute.
World Beard and Moustache Championship Parade in Anchorage, Alaska from Dennis Zaki on Vimeo.
If you’re looking for facial hair, from the standard big bushy “natural” look, to the elaborately styled curly look, and the “how much wax did you need for THAT?” spiky do, you needed to go no further than downtown Anchorage. Yes, today was the big day. The parade of the World Beard and Moustache Championships. In addition to Dennis Zaki’s great video above, check out the hilarious piece up on the Anchorage Daily News which asks participants the question, “What does your beard say about you?”
Apparently Germany is the team to beat.
As recently as 2005, Germany took 14 of the 17 first place awards. In 2007 the United States won five.
“We’ve got ’em now on our home turf,” [Captain of Beard Team USA Phil] Olsen said. “Beard Team USA is fired up. We’re expecting to do really well.”
And he’s expecting to do it with help from the men of Alaska — a place where facial hair presents no bar to political office, where full beards are obvious shelter from the arctic blast of long winters and where the handlebar moustache never quite went out style.
Anchorage beardsman David Traver, four time Fur Rondy “Mr. Fur Face” and former WBMC full beard natural world champion, is among the Alaskans preparing to face up to the competition.
We wait with bated breath to see if Beard Team USA can pull it off with the influx of Alaskan hairiness that came with the host city…. I’ll post the results later. But right now, the outdoors beckons. Over and out for now, Mudflatters!
Martha Unalaska Yard Sign Says:
will the forest know that you haven’t shaved your legs in three mos? Or more?
I’m SO in the “or more” category, though after 12 mo. and our weather…it happened.
Just been to KOS, AKM second round starting
I’m not into beards or facial hair in any way, but I say whatever! Good for those who are competing. They probably wouldn’t be into my quest for smoother and younger looking skin, and a less “crinkled” neck.
May the best beard win!
Martha Unalaska says…To balance things out – when the sun doesn’t shine and you don’t wear shorts, will the forest know that you haven’t shaved your legs in three mos? Or more?
nope………but will society ever want a holiday on female unshaven legs, lol, probably not…….how unfair is that….sheesh……guys get all the glory, (not really). I love that European women don’t shave their legs or under arms……I go with them, it’s not natural.
I believe it was last Monday in Sitka, at the Chowder Hut and Beer Garden at the Westmark. I was honored to meet the Beard Champion of the World: Gerhard Knapp, actually he has won it twice. He gave me a postcard with all the details of his victories.
I am sorry for being Off Topic, but this is good:
http://www.adn.com/opinion/comment/fagan/story/806255.html
LOL. I was driving around doing errands this afternoon and my NPR station teased this story before a station break with “a battle is brewing in Alaska!”
Who knew it would be the first story out of AK in ages that DIDN’T involve some ‘hair-raising’ shenanigans from GINO??
Papa Noel–Pride yourself on being Father Christmas to the kiddies!
You know how those Germans (Tryolian variety) grow those big bushy beards?
They drink lots and lots of beer.
Martha Unalaska…Great way to put that…he he
Krubozumo Nyankoye
That sounds pretty cool to me.
Nan 🙂
I can weigh in on this just for the fun of it, I never shave, gave it up about 35 years ago and never missed it for a minute. I don’t have much of a beard and it is getting pretty white now too, also. I trim it with scissors every month or so.
Wasn’t the original story of the myth of Narcissus that he fell in love with his own image when he saw his reflection in still water? Here in Brasil most men don’t wear beards so all the local kids in the villages like to call me “Papa Noel”. Now is that weird or what?
This is the REAL reason that (lazy) guys move to Alaska! The ones that were born here, were born WITH their beards already attached and functioning.
To balance things out – when the sun doesn’t shine and you don’t wear shorts, will the forest know that you haven’t shaved your legs in three mos? Or more?
This is off topic, but the State of Alaska is going after a guy who lives in the wilderness and feeds bears. I guess Palin has nothing better to do, beside shoot them. See:
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/05/23/20090523bearhaven-ON.html
Too bad Zaki only posts to Vimeo…..streaming from there is so slow and pitiful that his vids are virtually unviewable here in the real world. Oh well……..
I like the Forest Gump guy the best. Funny suff.
Thanks for the video as well as the article. It was a nice break from all the chores today. It’s cool in the Valley today, but I’m headed out shortly anyway. I need to get outside and get some fresh air.
I’m just not going to speculate about what kind of shape Gov. Palin might shave her pubic hair into. It wouldn’t be right, her being a public official and all.
Well, I’ve got to say that Alaskans sure do find some interesting ways to amuse themselves (I’m thinking of the Slush Cup, also too). Now that’s got me wondering if Alaskans have a higher-than-average birth rate during the summer…
Saw quiet a few German coats and hats but no lederhosen. And here I thought it was warming up on Alaska. You’d think they’d feel right at home.
Some nice beards there.
I’m still hoping for an Assyrian Hammurabi imitator with a full beard of curls.
I put this on the open thread……..
Any Anchorage mudpups going to the World Beard and Moustache Championships ?? It’s today in your town. Austin has sent 4 contestants. Here are three of ‘em :
http://www.austin360.com/search/content/events/stories/2009/05/0523beards.html
EWWW can you picture sucking face with that.
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