photo : Cansu Cender
2015 will see the majestic Austrian alps hosting a multi-national spectator-friendly sport.The hills will be alive with hirsute appendages as pogonophiles and stachephiles pose to win prizes!
Pogonophilia and Stachephilia
Anyone with an interest in hairiness will be bound to know that pogonophilia is the study of beards. And that a stachephile is manic about moustaches.
In prehistoric times masculinity was unashamedly associated with extreme hirsutism. It wasn’t until around 300BC that silky smooth skins became fashionable. But throughout time die-hard hair-lovers have declined to shave their luscious facial-locks!
Many memorable moustaches have been recorded for perpetuity – like American Civil War hero, General George Custer; the artist, Salvador Dali; or the super sleuth, Inspector Jacques Clouseau (Blake Edwards’ fictional character from the ‘Pink Panther’ series). And to keep the hairy folk of the 21st century happy, there are the World Beard and Moustache Championships – a veritable feast of facial hair – held biannually and attended by hoards of hair-loving ladies and gents.
World Beard And Moustache Championships 2015
Leogang in the Austrian Alps of the Pinzgau province, is the setting for the 2015 World Beard and Moustache Championships – a sporting event of olympic proportions. And like the Olympic Games, this contest is held biennially.
Set amid majestic massifs as old as time itself, this internationally acclaimed spectator-friendly sport will bring men, their moustaches (and not forgetting our bearded wonder boys!) together for a few days of fun and frolics, with rich rewards for those who showcase their super – and most serious – styles.
With around 20 different categories in the competition, the contestants will provide a fine fiesta of hairy appendages with graspable extremities growing from around 1.5 cm beyond the end of their upper lips!
Leogang
Leogang is a summer and winter resort area. Typically skiers and ‘boarders flock to the snow covered mountains and glaciers for cool curving in wintertime. But summer also sees alpine action, with hikers and mountain bikers abounding.
For those with less physically challenging preferences, Leogang has a wealth of sight-seeing attractions. From game and feathered friends on the moorlands, to deep caverns and mine museums. There’s something for everyone.
Mining in the area from ancient times is wonderfully presented in the local mining museum. The stories of men and women, their hard lives and work digging minerals (silver and nickel) from the mountains, can be seen. Opening times during summer (mid-May to October) are daily excluding Mondays. Winter opening is Thursdays only.
If you fancy visiting Leogang ahead of the pogonophiles and stachephiles – or indeed if you want to be there when the BIG event is on – it’s only a scenic car journey away from Chalet Lowonahill in the province of Styria. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like to know more.
