News Release
Alaskans Sweep “Alaskan Whaler” Partial Beard Category
Anchorage, Alaska – May 23, 2008 – One-hundred-and-two creatively clad partial beard/goatee contestants proudly showed off their furry faces this afternoon to a full house in the ballroom of the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center during the 2009 World Beard and Moustache Championships. Three Alaskans took top honors for partial beard: Jeremy Feltman of Kenai took first, Aaron Suring of Juneau took second and Shawn Campbell of Anchorage took third. Nearly 300 gentlemen from 13 countries are in Anchorage, Alaska, this unique international event.
2009 partial beard/goatee winners by category are:
Alaskan Whaler
This is a traditional Alaska seafarer’s beard: bushy, grown on cheeks, chin and lower lip; no hair grown on upper lip.
- First: Jerem Feltman, Kenai, Alaska
- Second: Aaron Suring, Juneau, Alaska
- Third: Shawn Campbell, Anchorage, Alaska
Freestyle Partial Beard
This is free design and styling of the beard. All partial beards that do not qualify for other categories may compete in this category. There must be a clean-shaven space at least 4 cm. wide either on the cheek, chin, or between the head hair and the beard. Aids are allowed.
- First: Stuart Wilf, Colorado Springs, Colo.
- Second: Roland van Den Bremt, Belgium
- Third: John Plummer, Homer, Alaska
Fu Manchu
Chin shaven with moustache allowed to start to grow up to a maximum of 2.0 cm. beyond and below the end of the upper lip. Tips long and pulled downward. Aids are allowed. There were only two contestants for this category.
- First: Ted Stedman, United Kingdom
- Second: Steinhoefel Detleff , Germany
Imperial Partial Beard
This has hair on the cheeks and upper lip. There must be clean-shaven spaces of at least 4 cm. wide on the chin and between the facial hair and the onset of the head hair. The whiskers are styled upwards. No closed curls. The hairs on the upper lip may not be separated from the hairs on the cheeks. The hairs may not be too long, not above the level of the eyes. Aids allowed.
- First: Karl-Heinz Hille, Germany
- Second: Udo Fritzsche, Germany
- Third: Mark Voermans, Belgium
Musketeer
This is a narrow chin beard that comes to a point. Moustache narrow, long, slightly curved and combed to the sides. Moustache may consist only of hairs that grow within 1.5 cm past the end of the upper lip. Aids allowed.
- First: Juergen Draheim, Germany
- Second: Frazer Coppin, United Kingdom
- Third: Reinhard Burker, Germany
Natural Goatee
- First: Paul Beisser, Santa Cruz, Calif.
- Second: Breman Grove, Indiana
- Third: Servay Wolfgang, Germany
Sideburns/Muttonchops
Must be a true sideburn. No natural or shaven gap by the ear. Chin is shaven and hair is optional on the upper lip. Aids allowed.
- First: Toot Joslin, Tahoe City, Calif.
- Second: Bruno Panza, Italy
- Third: Bill Mitchell, Georgia
There are 18 officially sanctioned categories: six styles of mustache, seven varieties of partial beard/goatee, and five kinds of full-beard. The World Beard and Moustache Association’s goal is to promote the appreciation of beards and moustaches through events and competitions that encourage friendships among those with beards and moustaches.
The first World Beard and Moustache Championship took place in Höfen-Enz, Germany in 1990. By 1995, the Championship had grown into a biennial gathering, held in various European countries. Carson City, Nevada, was the first non-European city to host the group in 2003. Anchorage, Alaska, is only the second U.S. destination ever to host the event. Brighton, England, hosted the last WBMC event in September 2007, during which Beard Team USA unexpectedly mounted a serious challenge to the dominant Germans, taking first in five of the categories.
For more information, visit www.anchorage.net/worldbeard.
The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (ACVB) mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage as a Destination Marketing Organization (DMO). ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by lodging associations. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund, a contribution established in 1978, and one-third to service the bond debt and operations of the Anchorage Convention Centers. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. Explore www.Anchorage.net.
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Media Contacts:
Jeanette Anderson Moores
Public Relations
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
jmoores@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118
Explore www.Anchorage.net
