WBMC History
Like many things having to do with the World Beard & Moustache Championships (WBMC) the history of the event is shrouded in controversy. The Italian delegation states the first championships took place in Northern Italy in the early 1970’s, however, the First Hofener Beard Club argues that today’s affair was organized in 1990 and hosted by their club.
Since 1995, the championships have been held every two years, primarily in European countries and more often in Germany. In 1997 Trondheim, Norway and the Norwegian Moustache Club played host to the championships. In 1999 the Swedish Moustache Club held the honor, hosting the event in Ystad, Sweden.
The championships returned to Germany in March 2001, when the Swabian Beard & Moustache Club celebrated its 10th anniversary by hosting the championships in its hometown of Schomberg.
For the first time in beard history, the championships moved outside of Europe in 2005 to Carson City, Nevada.
Beard Team U.S.A was founded in 1999 by Phil Olsen after wandering into the WBMC in Sweden and noticing that the U.S. was severely underrepresented. Since its inception in 1999, Beard Team U.S.A. has increased its membership to more than 100 members.
Beard Team USA
Beard Team USA (BTUSA) competes for the United States at the biennial World Beard and Moustache Championships (WBMC). The team aims to promote the worldwide appreciation of beards and moustaches through making the United States competitive in the WBMC, promoting and publicizing the WBMC, and facilitating the attendance of members and others at the championships.
At the 2007 world championships held in Brighton, England, BTUSA captured five first place trophies. In total, ten team members podiumed. The BTUSA squad included thirty-seven American beards and moustaches, which made up the largest single group at the worlds.
For more information on Beard Team USA visit http://beardteamusa.org.
South Central Alaska Beard and Moustache Club
The South Central Alaska Beard and Moustache Club was founded in 2003 to extend the annual Mr. Fur Face competition at the Miner's and Trapper's Ball into a year-round celebration of competition and comradery. Of the 48 members, those include former Mr. Fur Face title holders, World Champions, and world class competitors. The Mr. Fur Face beard and moustache competition has been an annual event in Anchorage, Alaska since 1950.
For more information on the South Central Alaska Beard and Moustache Club visit www.akbeardclub.com.
