- Canadian Victory in Wind Guitar Competition in Finland
Seems like we've got a peculiar winner in this category! A Canadian named Zachary Knowles, or "Ichabod Fame" on stage, has claimed the throne as the global champion of air guitar. In a thrilling final round held in Oulu, Finland, Knowles managed to outshine 15 other contestants. This was his inaugural appearance at the Air Guitar World Championships, which embraces the philosophy "Air, Not War" (Air, Not War).
In his Instagram story, Knowles expressed his gratitude, acknowledging that he couldn't have made it this far without the aid of his supporters.
Last year's champion, Kirill "Guitarantula" Blumenkrants, representing France, managed to tie for second place with Japan's Nanami "Seven Seas" Nagura. Germany's Patrick Culek, aka "Ehrwolf," rounded out the top four.
This air guitar championship forms a significant part of the August festival in the Oulu region, which showcases music, art, literature, and performance. The event has been a yearly tradition since 1996, but was postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Finland's unusual competitions don't stop there. The World Wife Carrying Championships, held annually in Sonkajärvi, involves speedily carrying your partner through an obstacle course. The winning duo is rewarded with the weight of the carried partner in beer.
Zachary Knowles' unique air guitar performance was a mix of energy and skill, earning him both excitement and admiration from the diverse crowd. Despite being a mixture of excitement and nerves, the final round brought out the best in all the contestants, showcasing their unique styles and interpretations of music.
