We all do it. You wake up, take a glance in the mirror and cringe; you have to shave that overnight stubble before starting the day. After you shave, you don’t think about it for the rest of the day and life goes on.
 

Well the competitors in the World Beard and Mustache Championships look into the mirror in a slightly different way. They see dedication, toughness and creativity. They are real men with heart and determination that blow away any dude with the, “I’m so cool,” scraggly 3 week beard. They are champions of facial hair.
 

Every year these inspirational figures meet at the World Beard and Mustache Championships and this year will feature a Chapman U. alum with ten years of persistence under his chin. Kris Luettchau is the first competitor from Orange County to compete in the Championships.
 

O.C. Register: 

Kris Luettchau was in college 10 years ago when he had an epiphany:
"I'm going to grow the sickest goatee you've even seen!'' he told friends.

 

Just like that, he started.

 

There was no big, elaborate back story — no drama about getting back at a girl by channeling his inner caveman.

 

Dude just wanted a cool goat.

 

Now, at 32, Luettchau's ice-cream-cone shaped, reddish-brown clump of wiry growth dangles down about 12 inches from the tip of his chinny chin chin.

I actually have one of those 3 week scraggler beards at the moment, but to listen to the stories of these champions is true inspiration. The longest I have grown out a beard was four months and loved it. But men, real men, like Luettchau and his ten year goatee, are to be looked at as heroes.