Date Posted: June 22, 2011
Print Edition: June 10, 2011
By Alex Watkins (The Cascade) – Email
Where does a man with a wild and glorious mane of facial hair, a competitive streak, and absolutely no athletic abilities fit into the wonderful world of sports? Have no fear, my furry companions, for we have found just the sport for you: the World Beard and Moustache Championships.
The origins of the competition are hazy, as – according to the official website – “Like many things having to do with the World Beard and Moustache Championships, the history of the event is shrouded in controversy.” While the Italian chapter of the community claims that the first unofficial championships were already taking place by the 1970s in Northern Italy, the official structure of the competition as we might recognize it today didn’t come to be until 1990 in the modest village of Höfen, Germany.
Participants are divided into classes, judging those sporting moustaches, partial beards, and full beards, with a “freestyle” category in each class for those with more unconventional facial hairstyles. Each competition has strict rules on what constitutes each style of facial hair, as enthusiasts with a lot of time on their hands apparently get into heated debates about whether or not certain styles, such as the Fu Manchu, are best placed in the category of partial beard or mustache. Additionally, each category has its own rules on whether or not “styling aids” – the steroids of the mustache world – are permitted.
All those interested in competing will unfortunately have to wait until 2013, as competition is held biannually, in order to give competitors time to nurture and train those beards into winners. The 2011 World Beard and Moustache Championships were held on May 15 in Trondheim, Norway (the country’s “facial hair capital”). The location was an appropriate one as it is also “the home of the Nidaros Cathedral, where Norway crowns its kings.” Could a better place for selecting the reigning international kings of facial hair be chosen? Probably not.
This year’s competition was hosted by Norway’s own Norwegian Mustache Club, who, according to the World Beard and Moustache Championships’ official website, “pull[ed] out all of the stops to welcome the world’s facial hair elite.” Yes, this devoted community of elite does fly from around the world to Norway for a facial hair competition. No, I have no idea how they rationalize that to their employers when asking for the time off.
While the USA and Germany are traditionally a force to be reckoned with at this competition, taking home numerous gold medals, Canada’s presence remains woefully absent. Perhaps a student from UFV will step up to the plate and bring our country the honour and distinction it deserves in the world of competitive facial hair. For more information, and to get a good look at some impressive, prizewinning beards, visit the World Beard and Moustache Championships’ official website at: http://www.worldbeardchampionships.com/
