American wins Air Guitar contest
2008-08-23 14:23
Oulu - American Craig "Hot
Lixx Hulahan" Billmeier has won the final of the Air Guitar
World Championships, held in Oulu, northern Finland.
Billmeier stole the crown on Friday from Japanese two-time
winner Ochi "Dainoji" Yosuke, and 18 other competitors.
"Honestly, I did not anticipate becoming a champion,"
Billmeier said, adding Billy Talent's Red Flag, the one
compulsory piece this year, suited his style.
Competitors came from 16 countries, including Australia,
Japan and South Africa to Oulu, 200 km south of the
Arctic Circle.
"I am just out to have as much fun as I can, that's my main
mission," said South African Heine van der Walt.
The final attracted a crowd of more than 4 000 and was
carried live on the internet.
"It started as half a joke," said Air Guitar World
Championships producer Hanna Jakku, who relished the challenge
of organising a global contest far away from major population
centres.
"It is silly, and that's the point of it!" said British
entry Simon "Turak" Edwards. "Some people tend to go a bit
serious, and it becomes more of an Olympic competition, trying
to win above trying to have fun."