Two new National Champions crowned on Saturday
On Saturday 26th of July, two new National Air Guitar Champions were crowned 8594 kilometers apart from each other. The months long US Air Guitar tour culminated at the National Final event held at The Independent concert venue in San Fransisco. The final competitors consisted of regional winners, the Dark Horse winner, and of the reigning National Champion 2024 Cole “Slappy Nutz” Lindbergh. After a very tight competition, the reigning champion placed second, with only 0.1 points between him and the new champion. Saladin “Six String Sal” Thomas is the US National Champion 2025, and will travel to Oulu to represent his country at the World Final! We are excited to see which air guitarist will the US organization send to compete as the country’s official Dark Horse at the Qualifications.
The Finnish National Final was held a second time in a row at Valkeakoski, at the Workers’ Music Festival. Winner of the Finnish final was Veli-Pekka ”Don Corni Leone” Ristaniemi, who will represent Finland at the World Final. Placing second at the final, was a familiar name to some air guitar fans, Eero “Oulun Oma Poika” Ojala who made a comeback after a long break. “Oulun Oma Poika” (eng. Oulu’s Own Boy) will represent Finland at the qualifications as the country’s official Dark Horse
There’s only two national champions left to be selected. The German Nationals will be held on the Saturday 2nd of August at Munich’s Free & Easy Festival, and France’s Nationals on the 9th of August at KIOSQNROCK Festival in Mirande.