WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont.– While the Yellowstone Ski Festival crew is plenty busy grooming the trails with the fresh snow fall Wednesday, many skiers are also busy grooming their upper lip. In the spirit of no-shave “Movember,” FasterSkier decided to rank the top mustaches found out on the trails. Ranking decisions were made based off the official rules according to the Movember Foundation, as well as an individual’s responses, and overall look.
The photo gallery shows our picks for the Top 10 Movember Men. This is followed by the Top Five Movember Women*, abbreviated because of the number of women who participated*. The gallery is rounded out with the top-three Bearded Honorable Mentions.
Why this ‘stache: “I’m just a poor college student and I can’t afford a razor,” said Parr. “I’ve been working on this for quite a while, not going to lie, I cheated a little bit. Started this back in June to prepare for this month. It’s a big month, there’s Yellowstone races, you have to show up and look tough and having facial hair is a big part of that,” added Dubay.
Why this ‘stache: “I thought it looked pretty good.”
Why this ‘stache: “Been growing it since November first. Started as a full beard, then I went to a goatee for a couple days. A lot of people didn’t like that, now I have handle bars,” said Michaud. “It’s really thick and full,” voiced Diekmann.
Why this ‘stache: “First, it started because a professor called me out last year for not having a mustache during November. That was number one. And then two, coming out to Montana from Minnesota, I’m thinking, I gotta get that ski bro..pretty laid back look.”
Why this ‘stache: “It’s been a very important month preparing for this moment.”
Why this ‘stache: “I had a big beard up until three or four days ago. We had a fundraiser for our team, it’s call Nordic Fest, a nordic themed dinner/silent auction. At the end of the night, someone had the idea [that] we could auction off shaving my beard. People threw up money like crazy and we raised over $600.00 for it. Now I’ve got this mustache.”
Why this ‘stache: “You can use the mustache to double check the kick wax of the day. For example, I’m using Extra Blue today to wax my mustache and it’s clearly the right wax for the day.”
Why this ‘stache: “It started on a hunting trip in September. It got hearty enough, that I had more than I ever had before, so I figured I just had to keep it going. I made a deal with the girlfriend that I could keep it until I got home from the SuperTours this fall. I look mean, but it makes the ‘stache look better that way.”
Why this ‘stache: “It reminds me of Colonel Mustard,” said Bean. “I don’t really know…,” Guiney reflected.
Why this ‘stache: “It’s a classic.”
Why this ‘stache: “It’s a modern twist on a classic ‘stache.”
Why this ‘stache: I chose this mustache because it has attitude, but it’s also business-like, which is how I feel I try to ski. You want to take what you’re doing seriously, but not take yourself too seriously, [and] I feel like ‘No Shave November’ really encapsulates that lifestyle.”
Why this look: “Oh, I just always have a beard.”
Why this look: “I really don’t like my facial shape. So it’s sort of to make an illusion that I have a better shape than I have.”
Why this look: “It didn’t really happen on purpose or anything. Starting in October I felt like I’d try it out, and that’s all there really is to it.”
Along with getting the history behind the facial hair, FS asked athletes about their race goals for the weekend and beyond:
Annie Pokorny (SMST2): “Be one of the top girls going into the season.”
Sloan Storey (University of Utah): “Just getting back into it, waking my body up, and having fun.”
Liz Guiney (CGRP): “Get the first races out of the way and have fun.”
Miles Havlick (SVSEF): “Should be a good weekend to get into the racing routine.”
Chris Parr (Unaffiliated): “To try and not to shave … I’m hoping I can hold off, it’s tempting.”
Joe Dubay (Unaffiliated): “I’m going to try not to let the icicles on my beard get too out of control.”
Nicholas Michaud (BSF): “Have the best mustache in the A-final on Friday.”
Eric Packer (APU): “First race of the year you’re always trying to put down a good effort and practice all of the things you worked on over the summer. My biggest goal is to go out there and ski really well.”
Akeo Maifeld-Carucci (BSF): “Make sure my mustache is looking real good at the finish.”
Reese Hanneman (APU): “I’m focusing on the sprint and hoping for an elite podium.”
Gabby Naranja considers herself a true Mainer, having grown up in the northern most part of the state playing hockey and roofing houses with her five brothers. She graduated from Bates College where she ran cross-country, track, and nordic skied. She spent this past winter in Europe and is currently in Montana enjoying all that the U.S. northwest has to offer.
