A Canadian individual clinches the title of wind guitar champion in Finland
Following a series of impressive performances, a Canadian named Zachary Knowles, known by his stage name "Ichabod Fame," clinched the title of the newest world champion in air guitar at a festive event. A German contestant, identified as "Ehrwolf" or Patrick Culek, managed to secure the fourth spot in this unusual competition.
This particular event stands out as one of the quirkier competitions around. With 15 competitors vying for the title, Zachary triumphed in the final showdown that took place in the Finnish city of Oulu. The air guitar championships, famous for their slogan "Make Air, Not War," served as his debut in this spectacular event.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Zachary acknowledged the support of everyone who had been by his side. Last year's champion, Kirill "Guitarantula" Blumenkrants hailing from France, shared the second position with Japan's Nanami "Seven Seas" Nagura.
Held as part of the annual August festival in the Oulu area, the air guitar world championships feature a mix of music, art, literature, and live performances. Since 1996, the event has been a celebrated tradition every year, except for the years 2020 and 2021, which saw a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It's not just air guitar competitions that Finland has under its belt. Each year, the town of Sonkajärvi hosts the world championships in the peculiar sport of wife carrying. The ultimate goal is to carry your partner through an obstacle course as swiftly as possible. The winning duo is rewarded with a beer trophy, equivalent to the weight of their carrier.
Zachary's victory at the World Championships in air guitar marked his first participation in this renowned event. His achievement was celebrated alongside last year's co-champions, Guitarantula from France and Seven Seas from Japan, at the subsequent World Championships.
