As China sweeps up gold medals in every sport under the sun, there is still a glaring omission in the country’s sporting record. In one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events, China is yet to make its mark on the medal tables.
Unbelievable as it sounds, in the 16 years of the event’s existence, China has not won a single medal in the World Air Guitar Championships.
But fear not, citizens, because this is surely about to change. DJ B.O. (Shanghai’s #2 DJ!) and INFERNO will host Shanghai’s first annual air guitar championships on the 24th of August. With prizes on offer such as booze, headphones and even supposedly superior ‘real’ guitars on offer to the winners, this will certainly be enough to raise the profile of the sport to the extent that China will dominate the world of Air Guitar in years to come. Already, we hear, primary schools across the country are being scouted for children to begin their training as air guitar champions in decades to come.
Shred Begley, Jr a.k.a Mr. Awesome- it could be you in those shorts.
For those who are maybe under the impression that International Air Guitar competitions are something that we just made up, think again. Air Guitar championships have been running in Scandinavia and the US since the 1980s, and in 1996 the Oulu Music Festival in Finland hosted the first international championship (in a city that boasts of being voted one of the seven most intelligent cities in the world).
What began as a sideshow has grown into an international network of championships, often run for charity, won by people with names like ‘Juan Nightstand’ (current UK champion) ‘The Devil’s Niece’ (from Germany, the current world champion and Justin ‘Nordic Thunder’ Howard (USA, runner up).
Check out the 2011 compilation below:
The Shanghai Championships will follow rules similar to those used in international competitions (download those rules right here air-guitarists) which, apparently, follow a scoring system similar to that used in figure skating. Those who think that they have what it takes to become should sign up at INFERNO bar or at contact@infernobar.com.
So, get practicing and don’t forget to stock up on air guitar strings, only $1.99!
Oh and if you haven't got a clue how to do it, here's a handy video tutorial that we borrowed (stole)...
Find out more about the event on our events listing here.
WORDS: Pete Jackson
PICTURES: videos from Howcast.com / www.airguitarworldchampionships.com
