Welcome to the Air Guitar World Championships
Air Guitar Overlordship Changes to Another Hemisphere: Air Guitar World Championship Goes to the United States
Craig "Hot Lixx Hulahan" Billmeier (US) crushed the opponents with his polished performance at the Air Guitar World Championships Grand Final on Friday 22 August in Oulu, Finland. The two-year-reigning Air Guitar, Ochi "Dainoji" Yosuke (JP), had to give in to the overwhelming new Champion. Hot Lixx Hulahan scored highest on the First Round, and on the Second Round defeated his strongest opponent, Andel "John Sniffler" Soreen (NL), with his impeccable timing and an overall solid performance that took the audience by storm.
In addition to growing international fame and glory, Hot Lixx Hulahan was awarded with a Finnish hand-made Flying Finn electric guitar. He also received a laptop backpack by Golla, as did John Sniffler who took the second place and Cole "Johnny Utah" Manson (CAN) who came third. The international Air Guitar audience also got to vote for their own favorite during the competition. People's Choice award went to Christian "Heart Buckboard" Sweep (DE). All of the finalists also go home with Music Bag mp3 cases designed by Golla.
The four contestants to clear the Qualifying Round on Thursday challenged in the Grand Final the national Champions from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, United States, Canada, Norway, Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands, France, Italy, South Africa, Finland, Estonia, Russia and Greece - and the reigning Word Champion Ochi "Dainoji" Yosuke who defended his 2006 and 2007 Championship titles. After the Self Chosen Round, the ten highest scoring contestants played the energetic Billy Talent song "Red Flag" on the Compulsory Round.
Air Guitar World Championships results and scores:
1. Craig "Hot Lixx Hulahan" Billmeier (US) 35.5
2. Andel "John Sniffler" Soree (NL) 34.8
3. Cole "Johnny Utah" Manson (CAN) 34.7
4 Francois-Xavier "Master Peace" Phan (FR) 34.4
4. Ichikawa the Rock (JP) 34.4
6. Ochi "Dainoji" Yosuke (JP) 34.2
7. Christian "Heart Buckboard" Sweep (DE) 33.5
8. Clay "Clay Bangers" Connolly (AU) 33.4
8. Daniel "Midnight Moses" Robertson (UK) 33.4
10. Simon "Turak" Edwards (UK) 32.8
11. Ramsey James "Carlos Slazenger" Williamson (GR) 16.6
11. Maxim "Angel of Death" Andro (FIN) 16.6
13. Daniel "Fahnderstruck" Faranna (IT)16.5
13. Terje "Lord Fist" Stephansen (NOR) 16.5
15. Aikyu "Super IQ" Kanagawa (JP) 16.4
16. Dirk "Lord Airness" Lüdi (CH) 16.3
17. Heine "Lord Wolmer" van der Walt (ZA) 16.1
17. Alexander "Devil Seducer" Gott (RU) 16.1
19. Oskari "Knucklefinger" Martimo (FIN) 15.4
20. Aivar Meos (EE) 15.1