Alaskan Showdown

Anchorage's David Traver (left), a member of Beard Team USA whose brown full beard is as impressive as his beard competition credentials (first in the full beard natural category and third overall at the World Beard and Moustache Championships held in Nevada in 2003, perennial champion at the annual Mr. Fur Face contest in Anchorage), gasped when he saw fellow Alaskan Opie Combs (right) sign up for this year's Mr. FF contest held in Anchorage in February. Could Traver's title be on the line?

Opie, who is also a member of BTUSA, sports an outstandingly full, long red beard.

No one was surprised when Opie won the Red Fox category or when David won the Brown Bear division, but the crowd held its collective breath to see who would claim the overall prize.

In the end, experience won out over youth, and David was awarded the Mr. Fur Face crown for another year.

David will definitely be representing the USA in Brighton this summer. BTUSA hopes Opie can make the trip too.