articleAndrew “Flying Finn” Finn of the United States performs during the Air Guitar World Championships final in Oulu, Finland, on Aug. 24, 2018.
Finnish air guitarist Aapo “The Angus” Rautio claimed victory at the Air Guitar World Championships Friday night in Oulu, Finland, earning his homeland its first title in 25 years.
Rautio triumphed in the final round of the 28th annual competition, which featured performers from 13 countries. Contestants are judged on passion, stage presence and “Airness” — a concept blending technical skill and artistic flair.
What makes an Air Guitar champion?
Competitors perform two 60-second routines, one to a song of their choice and another to a track selected by organizers. Real instruments and backup bands are banned, but costumes and props are allowed.
Judges score performances between 4.0 and 6.0 points, weighing originality, technical merit and the ability to lose oneself in the music.
This year’s final saw Rautio outshine reigning champion Zachary “Ichabod Fame” Knowles of Canada, along with challengers including U.S. champion Saladin “Six String Sal” Thomas and Germany’s Patrick “Van Airhoven” Culek.
The backstory:
The Air Guitar World Championships began in 1996 in Oulu and have grown into a quirky international spectacle. The winner receives a custom “Flying Finn” guitar crafted by Finnish luthier Matti Nevalainen.
Organizers say the contest’s playful spirit carries a deeper message. According to its founding ideology, “wars will end, climate change will stop and all bad things will vanish when all the people in the world play the air guitar.”
The Source: This report is based on information from the Air Guitar World Championships and local reporting from Oulu, Finland.