There was a hairy moment or two at the weekend as the biennial World Beard and Moustache Competition got underway.
After a few bristly rounds, David Traver from Anchorage, Alaska, was crowned the victor for his stunning woven beard and down-turned moustache.
The prize beard measures over 20 inches long and was cultivated over a period of two-and-a-half years, before being plaited into the shape of a snowshoe.
Hair-raising: Beard-growers from across the globe gathered to show off their facial furniture at the biennial World Beard and Moustache Competition
It won Traver a commemorative gold pan and a salmon fishing trip.
It was a winning year all round for the American hosts with second place going to Benjamin Juergens from Los Angeles, for his Imperial Partial Beard, made up of a regal-looking moustache and goatie.
While third place went to Jack Passion from San Francisco in the Natural Full Beard Category for his epic ginger cloud.
Winning by a whisker: David Traver of Anchorage won first place in the contest
Furry faces: Competition winners take centre stage in Anchorage, Alaska
Facial hair in all forms, from the immense woolly mane of Albert Schmid from Team Switzerland, to the vast lip antlers of Memili Ristioglu from Istanbul, Turkey, was on show at the event in Anchorage, Alaska.
Phil Olsen, founder and captain of Beard Team USA said: 'It was a great year for beards. The competition was stiff.'
Almost 300 of the beard and moustache elite gathered from over 11 countries for the ninth WBMC competition, which featured a variety of categories from the delicate Dali moustache to side-burned mutton chops to the outrageous full beard freestyle.
Follically blessed: These bushy beards are some of the best
Keith Haubrich won first place in the 'freestyle moustache' round for an asymmetrical creation of spikes and loops.
Loopier still was Willi Chevalier of Sigmaringen, Germany, who took the 'partial beard freestyle' category for the eighth time with his 'facial hair pretzel.'
Other teams included the newly formed Australian Bushrangers, and London's famous Handlebar Club.
The last competition was held in Brighton in 2007 and was won by the bewhiskered Elmar Weisser from Brigachtal, Germany, for his hairy portrayal of Tower Bridge.
Father Christmas style: Tim Slade, left, seems proud of his Santa-like beard while, right, Bob Gengler would give Harry Potter character Rebeus Hagrid a run for his money with his brown bushy look
Snack break: Dick Lacey, left, and Jake Craig, right, both of London grab a sandwich ahead of the beardy parade
Elmar, from the ever-dominant German Swabian Beard Club also stole the show in Berlin 2005 for his furry Brandenburg Gate.
The 18 whiskered winners will return home with trophies but all proceeds go to charity because, in the world of competitive facial hair, honour is the only reward.
Judging is not based entirely on technical merit, as dapper clothing and a gentlemanly attitude are also revered.
While one beard might be technically superior, it's the ones that move the judges' spirit that triumph.
they have style names, categories, and portfolio pix:
this would fall into the "freestyle" category...
this guy apparently keeps winning the partial beard category (which part? looks like the whole thing and more is there!)
"For the first time in history, Germany failed to take home the majority of the trophies awarded at the World Beard and Moustache Championships as the United States enjoyed the home field advantage in Anchorage, Alaska, and established itself as the new leading power in international bearding."
like it's an olympic sport or something...
thanks for sharing, Kelly
__________________
"Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess." ~ Edna Woolman Chase