The competition is open to everyone, regardless of nationality, experience, or group affiliation.  For the first time in history, the Nationals will utilize the seventeen-category system commonly employed at the World Beard and Moustache Championships. The categories range from the delicate Dali moustache to the anything-goes full beard freestyle.

Online registration and ticket sales will be available within the next few weeks. Registration will be $40. Admission for spectators is $10.

There will be a full schedule of activities for championships weekend, including a poker tournament, a visit to Hoover Dam, rafting on the Colorado River, and the Whiskerinas’ fake beard contest.

Learn more at Beard Team USA

Leinfelden-Echterdingen is a suburb of Stuttgart, located in Southwestern Germany in the region of Swabia, not far from the Black Forest.  The area is famous for Mercedes-Benzes, local wine, and Spaetzle, but don’t worry, there is beer too.

If you find Leinfelden-Echterdingen a bit of a mouthful, just call it “L.E.,” but remember that “E” in German is pronounced like “A” in English.

See you in L.E. (pronounced “L.A.”).

The 2012 Beard Team USA National Beard and Moustache Championships will take place on Sunday, November 11, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Note that Veteran’s Day will be observed on Monday, November 12.

Organizers of the event include the East Bavarian Beard Club and the Saalfelden-Leogang Tourist Office. Be prepared for Bier, Blasmusik, and Gemütlichkeit!

Here is a recent email exchange between Beard Team USA’s Larry Donaldson and Magne Torring of Oslo, Norway. Magne happened to be on the train with Beard Team USA from Trondheim to Oslo last May.
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Magne,

With all the chaos going on around the bombing and shooting in Oslo, I hope you are doing OK. You have been on my mind a lot the last few days. The terrorism in Norway has been getting a lot of coverage in the US. It seems to be so much like Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

The train ride from Trondheim to Oslo was one of the highlights of my Norway trip. Having you tell me more about your country was very special.

Remember we are all thinking about you and your country in these trying times.

Larry Donaldson
(member of Beard Team USA)
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Dear Larry.

Thank you so much for your concern and support. We are all shaken, but I hope we can get through this without giving in to hatred and fear. Yesterday somewhere around 150 000 people gathered in Oslo carrying flowers, to mourn the victims and show defiance. But not a word of revenge was spoken except one – the mayor of Oslo said: “We will have our revenge on the perpetrator by becoming an even more open, even warmer society.” I truly believe that is the only way ahead.

It was also an absolute pleasure for me to share coach with the Beard Team USA and with you. It is so easy to make assumptions about the U.S., and I truly appreciated being able to talk to you and learn more about your country and all of its variety. It was a highlight for me as well.

Magne Torring

Click on any of the category names below for the complete wrap-up of the competition in each category.

The opinions expressed are those of founder and self-appointed Captain of Beard Team USA, Phil Olsen.

Beard Team USA at the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondhjem (photo by Jeffrey Moustache)

At the same time, America sent by far the largest delegation, remarkable in these difficult economic times. Indeed Norway may be one of the most expensive travel destinations in the world for Americans, whose dollars just don’t go as far as they used to. Thus the high cost of beer (around $14 a pint in a typical pub) and other necessities of life no doubt kept away many American beardsmen who would have loved to compete on the world stage.

In fact some Americans resorted to street begging in order to finance their trips.

In contrast to the USA, other countries posted disappointing participation numbers. Nearby Sweden, barely 55 miles East of Trondheim, sent only four competitors and one judge. In per capita terms, however, Liechtenstein was by far the best represented, with one Liechtensteiner (Norbert Lampert) competing for every 36,000 citizens in the country. Simple math demonstrates that if, for example, China had participated at the same per capita rate as Liechtenstein, there would have been 50,000 Chinese competitors alone.

American Rooty Lundvahl of the Whisker Club knocked two-time defending world champ Jack Passion off the top spot in the largest category, Full Beard Natural. Passion was second.

American Burke T. Kenny was restored the Full Beard Styled Moustache crown he won at the 2007 worlds in England but then lost in Alaska in 2009. Whisker Club President Bruce Roe won the Hungarian Moustache Division.

Meanwhile, Keith “Gandhi Jones” Haubrich completed the three-peat in Freestyle Moustache. Newcomers to the world stage Bill Mitchell from Georgia and Giovanni Dominice from Arizona won in Partial Beard Freestyle and Imperial Moustache respectively.

The fledgling Northern Los Angeles Beard and Moustache Club, a local chapter of Beard Team USA, took two silvers, one for Jeffrey Moustache in the English Moustache category, and another for John Myatt in Verdi.

The Austin Facial Hair Club, also a local chapter of Beard Team USA, competing independently and rumored to be contemplating secession, was skunked.

Judges included Roe’s wife Tommy and Whisker Club member Dan Sederowsky.

Check back soon for photos and complete results.

The categories are divided into three classes, moustaches, partial beards, and full beards, although many people would consider some of the partial beards (especially Fu Manchu and Imperial) moustaches.

Beard Team USA, which represents the United States at the World Beard and Moustache Championships, is thrilled to be holding the championships in Amish Country, where the local Amish farmers have been growing beards for America for over 200 years.  As part of the festivities, contestants, their friends, and fans will have the opportunity to attend Amish Camp, where they can live with and like the Amish for 24 hours.

Last year’s inaugural national championships were held in Bend, Oregon.  Over two hundred spectacularly bearded and moustachioed contestants vied for top honors in four separate categories before a panel of distinguished judges that included Miss Oregon and Mr. Sarwan Singh, according to the Guinness Book of World Records the man with the world’s longest beard.

The contest is open to all. Learn more at Beard Team USA’s website.