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When I was just 10, I came across a feature in my community gazette about the Air Guitar World Championships, held annually every year in my hometown of Oulu, Finland. My family had helped out at the pioneering contest back in 1996 – my mum gave out flyers, my dad organized the music. From that point, domestic competitions have been staged all across the world, with the titleholders assembling in Oulu annually.

At the time, I inquired with my family if I could participate. At first they were hesitant; the show was in a bar, and there would be many grown-ups. They believed it might be an daunting atmosphere, but I was resolved.

As a kid, I was always performing air guitar, miming along to the most popular rock tunes with my invisible instrument. My parents were music fans – my father loved Springsteen and the Irish rock band. the Australian rockers was the first band I found independently. the guitarist, the lead guitarist, was my hero.

As I took the stage, I played my set to the band's that classic track. The audience started yelling “Angus”, just like the live recording, and it struck me: this must be to be a music icon. I reached the championship, competing to a large audience in Oulu’s market square, and I was hooked. I got the nickname “Little Angus” that day.

Later I paused. I was a referee one year, and started the show once more, but I stayed out of the contest. I returned at 18, tested out several stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I embraced it and choose “The Angus” as my performance alias. I’ve qualified for the last round every year since 2022, and in 2023 I was the runner-up, so I was resolved to take the title this year.

The air guitar community is like a support system. Our guiding principle is ‘Create music, not conflict’. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief.

The contest is high-energy yet fun. Participants have one minute to give everything – high-powered performance, precise mimicry, performance charm – on an invisible guitar. Adjudicators score you on a point range from 4.0 to 6.0. If scores are equal, there’s an “air-off” between the final two contestants: a song plays and you create on the spot.

Preparation is everything. I chose an the band Avenged Sevenfold song for my act. I listened to it on a loop for multiple weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my lower body prepared enough to bound, my fingers nimble enough to mimic solos and my spine prepared for those gestures and hops. When competition day arrived, I could sense the music in my soul.

When the show concluded, the results were tallied, and I had drawn with the winner from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was occasion for an final showdown. We faced off to that classic rock anthem by the iconic band. When I heard the song, I felt comforted because it was a tune I recognized, and more than anything I was so eager to perform one more time. When they announced I’d emerged victorious, the area erupted.

The moment is hazy. I think I blacked out from shock. Then the crowd started performing the song that well-known track and lifted me on to their arms. A former champion – alias Nordic Thunder – a previous titleholder and one of my closest friends, was hugging me. I cried. I was Finland’s first air guitar global winner in a quarter-century. The previous Finnish champion, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was there, too. He gave me the most heartfelt squeeze and said it was “finally happening”.

Our global network is like a family. Our motto is “Create music, not conflict”. It sounds silly, but it’s a true way of life. Participants come from all over the world, and each person is helpful and motivating. Prior to performing, every competitor offers an embrace. Then for 60 seconds you’re free to be uninhibited, playful, the top performer in the world.

Besides that, I'm a percussionist and guitarist in a group with my sibling called the band name, named after the sports figure, as we’re inspired by UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been bartending for a few years now, and I direct independent videos and music videos. The victory hasn’t altered my routine too much but I’ve been doing a lot of press, and I aspire it brings more artistic projects. The city will be a designated cultural center next year, so there are exciting things ahead.

For now, I’m just thankful: for the network, for the ability to compete, and for that budding enthusiast who read an article and thought, “I'd love to try that.”