Wahl's Man of Denver contest is part of the company's larger Man of the Year facial hair competition, in which fifteen semifinalists are selected in cities across the country based on their beard or mustache styles. Each is awarded $500, a Wahl Lithium Ion Stainless Steel Trimmer and a chance to compete to be Wahl Man of the Year.
Laplante was caught by surprise when he won Wahl's Man of Denver title at the Great American Beer Festival -- especially since there were so many other beards at the GABF. "Looking around, I see so many different, far-out styles and I don't consider mine that unique," he says. "It's a pretty general beard, but it fits me very well. I was completely shocked, though."
According to Laplante, facial-hair fortune runs in the family. His "grandpa had a beard for probably forty years," he says, and Laplante appears to be following in his footsteps, since he notes that he's "almost never been clea-nshaven in the last decade."
Unfortunately, Laplante still hasn't received his $500 check; there was a mixup with his address when he moved, and it was sent to his former residence. And he could use the money, as well as the $1,000 grant prize, since he says he's in "an apartment with a lot of boxes and no bed frame, no dresser or anything like that." Purchasing some new furniture would be "high on the list," he notes.
"Pretty much the first thing I've done since moving to Denver is win this competition," Laplante says. "It was a really cool and great way to start my life here."
Of course, starting a new life is always more comfortable when furniture is involved.
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