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Back when I was 10, I read about a story in my hometown newspaper about the Air Guitar World Championships, that happens every year in my birthplace of Oulu, Finland. Mom and Dad had volunteered at the very first contest back in 1996 – my mum distributed flyers, my father sorted the music. Since then, national championships have been staged in many nations, with the champions assembling in Oulu each August.

At the time, I asked my parents if I could enter. Initially they had doubts; the show was in a bar, and there would be many grown-ups. They believed it might be an intimidating atmosphere, but I was set on it.

During childhood, I was always performing air guitar, pretending to play to the iconic rock tunes with my invisible instrument. Mom and Dad were music fans – my dad loved Bruce Springsteen and the Irish rock band. the band AC/DC was the initial group I found independently. the guitarist, the frontman guitarist, was my hero.

As I took the stage, I performed my act to the band's Whole Lotta Rosie. The audience started yelling “Angus”, just like the concert version, and it dawned on me: this is what it feels like to be a rock star. I reached the championship, competing to crowds in Oulu’s market square, and I was addicted. I was dubbed “Little Angus” that day.

Then I took a break. I was a adjudicator one year, and opened for the show on another occasion, but I didn’t compete. I returned at 18, experimented with various stage names, but people kept calling me “Little Angus” so I embraced it and adopt “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 take the title this year.

The air guitar community is like a close-knit group. Our guiding principle is ‘Make air, not war’. It may seem funny, but it’s a true ethos.

The competition itself is high-energy yet fun. Participants have one minute to deliver maximum effort – dynamic presence, perfect mime, rock star charisma – on an imaginary instrument. The panel evaluate you on a scale from four to six. In the case of a tie, there’s an “air-off” between the last two competitors: a song plays and you freestyle.

Training is crucial. I chose an Avenged Sevenfold song for my performance. I listened to it on a loop for weeks. I did regular stretches, trying to get my legs prepared enough to jump, my digits nimble enough to imitate guitar parts and my back prepared for those moves and leaps. Once the event arrived, I could internalize the track in my bones.

Once all acts were done, the scores came in, and I had drawn with the Japanese champion, Yuta “Sudo-chan” Sudo – it was moment for an tiebreaker. We faced off to Sweet Child o’ Mine by the rock group. Once the track began, I felt comforted because it was one that I knew, and above all I was so eager to play again. As they declared I’d won, the square went wild.

My memory is blurry. I think I lost consciousness from surprise. Then everyone started performing the song that well-known track and hoisted me on to their arms. A former champion – alias Nordic Thunder – a previous titleholder and one of my closest friends, was holding me. I shed tears. I was the first Finnish air guitar world champion in a quarter-century. The earlier winner from Finland, Markus “Black Raven” Vainionpää, was there, too. He offered me the biggest hug and said it was “about damn time”.

Our global network is like a close-knit group. Our guiding saying is “Focus on fun, not fighting”. Though it appears comical, but it’s a real philosophy. Competitors come from many countries, and everyone is helpful and motivating. Prior to performing, all participants comes and hugs you. Then for a brief period you’re free to be uninhibited, humorous, the biggest rock star in the world.

I’m also a percussionist and musician in a musical act with my family member called the band name, referencing the sports figure, as we’re inspired by UK rock and post-punk. I’ve been serving drinks for a couple of years, and I direct short films and music videos. Winning hasn’t altered my routine significantly but I’ve been doing a extensive media, and I aspire it brings more creative work. Oulu will be a cultural hub next year, so there are great prospects.

For now, I’m just grateful: for the community, for the opportunity to play, and for that budding enthusiast who picked up a newspaper and thought, “I'd love to try that.”