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Back when I was 10, I discovered a article in my community gazette about the Air Guitar World Championships, held annually every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. My parents had volunteered at the inaugural contest starting from 1996 – my mother handed out flyers, my father sorted the music. Ever since, national championships have been organized globally, with the champions assembling in Oulu every summer.

Back then, I requested permission if I could compete. Initially they had doubts; the competition was in a bar, and there would be an older crowd. They felt it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was determined.

In my youth, I was always miming air guitar, miming along to the most popular rock tunes with my imaginary instrument. My family were music fans – my father loved The Boss and the Irish rock band. the Australian rockers was the original act I stumbled upon myself. Angus Young, the guitar hero, was my hero.

When I stepped on stage, I did my routine to AC/DC’s Whole Lotta Rosie. The spectators started yelling “Angus”, just like the concert version, and it hit me: this is what it feels like to be a music icon. I made it to the finals, playing to hundreds of people in the town square, and I was addicted. I earned the moniker “Little Angus” that day.

Then I took a break. I was a judge one year, and kicked off the show once more, but I didn't participate. I returned at 18, tested out several stage names, but everyone still referred to me as “Little Angus” so I accepted it fully and make “The Angus” as my stage name. I’ve made it to the final annually from 2022 onward, and in 2023 I came second, so I was determined to win this year.

The air guitar community is like a close-knit group. Our guiding principle is ‘Make air, not war’. It sounds silly, but it’s a genuine belief.

The event is high-energy yet fun. Contestants have one minute to put their all – explosive energy, flawless imitation, performance charm – on an invisible guitar. Adjudicators score you on a scale from a specific numeric range. If scores are equal, there’s an “air-off” between the final two contestants: a song plays and you improvise.

Training is crucial. I picked an the band Avenged Sevenfold song for my performance. I listened to it on a loop for multiple weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my legs loose enough to bound, my fingers nimble enough to mimic solos and my upper body set for those moves and leaps. By the time competition day dawned, I could internalize the track in my soul.

After everyone had performed, the scores came in, and I had tied with the titleholder from Japan, a competitor known as Sudo-chan – it was occasion for an tiebreaker. We competed directly to the Guns N’ Roses hit by the rock group. Once the track began, I felt comforted because it was familiar to me, and above all I was so excited to perform one more time. As they declared I’d won, the area went wild.

It's all a bit fuzzy. I think I lost consciousness from the excitement. Then the crowd started chanting the song Rockin’ in the Free World and hoisted me on to their shoulders. One of the greats – AKA his stage name – a former champion and one of my best pals, was embracing me. I wept. I was the first Finnish air guitar global winner in 25 years. The previous Finnish champion, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was in attendance as well. He bestowed upon me the biggest hug and said it was “finally happening”.

The air guitar community is like a close-knit group. The phrase we live by is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. It sounds silly, but it’s a true way of life. Participants come from all over the world, and each person is supportive and encouraging. Before you go on stage, all participants offers an embrace. Then for one minute you’re able to be uninhibited, humorous, the top performer in the world.

Besides that, I'm a drummer and musician in a band with my family member called the group title, named after the football manager, as we’re fans of UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been bartending for a short time, and I produce mini movies and performance clips. The victory hasn’t affected my daily activities drastically but I’ve been doing a many interviews, and I hope it results in more artistic projects. My hometown will be a European capital of culture soon, so there are great prospects.

At present, I’m just appreciative: for the network, for the opportunity to play, and for that budding enthusiast who found a story and thought, “That's for me.”