Fri 22 Aug 2008 12:47:14 AM EEST
Four Airy Axemen to the Grand Final in the Air Guitar World Championships
The battle for Air Lordship heated up at the Qualifying Round on Thursday 21 August in Oulu, Finland. The contest culminated in Aikyu "Super IQ" Kanagawa's (JP) highest scoring performance in which he tore up his shirt exposing a demand to recognize Air Guitar playing as an Olympic sport. The other Dark Horses to clear the qualifications were Simon "Turak" Edwards (UK), Dirk "Lord Airness" Lüdi (CH) and Oskari "Knucklefinger" Martimo (FIN).
Besides politics, the Qualifying Round saw creative use of home-made special effects: the audience got sprayed with confetti not just once but twice.
Prestigious air power was exercised by a Jury that consisted of Merja Satulehto, a dancer and a judge at the Finnish version of Dancing With The Stars, actor Aki Pelkonen from Oulu City Theatre and journalist Janne Nyyssönen from Kaleva newspaper. In addition to them, the Jury bench was taken by the national Air Guitar contest organizers Guyri Vergouw (NL) and Maria Janakis (GR).
RESULTS FOR THE AGWC QUALIFYING ROUND:
1. Aikyu "Super IQ" Kanagawa (JP) 17.0
2. Dirk "Lord Airness" Lüdi (CH) 16.7
3. Simon "Turak" Edwards (UK) 16.3
4. Oskari "Knucklefinger" Martimo (FIN) 16.2
Press photos of the Qualifying Round winners can be found here.
In High Feather to the Grand Final
The Air Guitar World Championships Grand Final is held on Friday 22 August at Oulu Marketplace. In the Grand Final the air guitarists who shredded their way through the Qualification Round challenge the reigning Word Champion Ochi "Dainoji" Yosuke and 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.
For the 13th time the Chairman of the Grand Final Jury will be Juha Torvinen, the Finnish guitar legend and a godfather of the air guitar. In addition to Torvinen, the Jury consists of the 2005 Air Guitar World Champion, Michael "The Destroyer"Heffels (NL), and Amanda Griffiths who did her PhD on the air guitar culture. The Jury also includes the national Air Guitar contest organizers Rita Cadillac (FR) and Mark DiPietro (CA).
The climax of the competition is highlighted by the Finnish top artists Chisu and Maj Karma with their exclusive Oulu performances. The night is hosted by the world famous Air Guitar Guru, Björn Türoque. Tickets for the AGWC Grand Final (24€) are sold at the door on Friday starting at 7 p.m.
More information:
Festival Producer: Hanna Jakku, tel. +358 44 568 1429
Press Secretary: Essi Haukkamaa, tel. +358 400 603 241
