…in the Air Guitar Championships.  It’s been a long run for Hot Lixx Hoolihan who brought the audience to tears with his magnificent performance during Washington, DC’s regional championships earlier this year.  He then went on to win the US championships shortly after, which meant he was off to Oulu, Finland, the home of the annual world championships, to compete against the best.  Like the true hero he is, Hot Lixx conquered all nations, scoring an almost perfect score in the compulsory round. 

We here at BYT would like to congratulate this truly exceptional patriot.  On behalf of Americans everywhere, you have made us proud Hot Lixx.  You have won over our hearts like no other athlete competing overseas ever could.

To see our coverage from this years regional championships, click here
And last years

 

The full press release is below, and here is a video from TIME:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1485842900/bctid1747849048

On August 20th, San Francisco native CRAIG BILLMEIER (aka HOT LIXX HULAHAN), traveled to the Air Guitar World Championships in Oulu, Finland, carrying with him dreams of World Air Guitar glory and the flag of the United States.

Billmeier was crowned the 2008 Cuervo Black US Air Guitar presented by TouchTunes Champion earlier this month, defeating twenty-four challengers from around the country, all vying for the opportunity to represent the United States. The World Championships brought 20 more challengers this time from all around the globe. The field included two-time defending World Champion Ochi (Dainoji) Yosuke of Japan, as well as representatives from Russia, Australia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. ‘I honestly didnt think I had a chance,’ Billmeier said afterwards. ‘Dont get me wrong, I wanted to do good, to do everyone proud, to at least look decent on YouTube.’

DAN CRANE (aka BJORN TUROQUE), emcee of the Cuervo Black US Air Guitar Championships Tour, and star of the American feature film, Air Guitar Nation, was on hand to host the event (the first time the competition was hosted by a non-Finn). Crane said of Hot Lixxs compulsory round performance, ‘He couldnt have nailed the song more perfectly. Every move was precise and the audience was eating out of the palm of his hand.’ The judges concurred, giving Hot Lixx a near-perfect score. ‘Ive never seen such a near-perfect score in the final round,’ Crane said via email. His tone softened when speaking of the spirit and sportsmanship surrounding the event and its participants: ‘Afterwards, everyone came up to him and said they were happy that if it wasnt them that won, they were glad it was Hot Lixx. Hes just got that Air about him.’

‘Its certainly in keeping with the true heart of air guitar, which is World Peace,’ said US Air Guitar co-founder Kriston Rucker, via text message, referring to the Air Guitar Ideology which states that if one is holding an air guitar, one cannot, at the same time, be holding a gun. ‘I think it speaks to the old Air Guitar Ideology which states that if one is holding an air guitar, one cannot, at the same time, be holding a gun.’ Rucker then continued to say, ‘I believe this victory validates the organizational initiatives we put into place following our three year drought at the world level. It also reaffirms that our talent pipeline is robust, and will only grow stronger with the global attention that Hot Lixx is bringing to our event.’

Since its inception, US Air Guitar has sent a representative to compete for the World Air Guitar crown six times. This latest win marks the third time the United States has triumphed. ‘With this win, America has just entered an Air Guitar dynasty,’ said USAG co-founder Cedric Devitt. The US won the world crown in its first and second years in the world competition (2003 & 2004, respectively), but relinquished the throne in 2005 to Michael (Destroyer) Heffels of the Netherlands, and in 2006 and 2007 to Ochi (Dainoji) Yosuke of Japan. For winning the Air Guitar World Championship title, Billmeier was awarded a Finnish handmade Flying Finn electric guitar. Of his victory, he said simply, humbly, ‘I certainly did not expect this.’

To see Hot Lixx Hulahans performances from both Rounds: http://www.youtube.com/USAirGuitar

 Air Guitar World Championships Results With Scores:
1. Craig Hot Lixx Hulahan Billmeier (United States) 35.5
2. Andel John Sniffler Soree (Netherlands) 34.8
3. Cole Johnny Utah Manson (Canada) 34.7
4 Francois-Xavier Master Peace Phan (France) 34.4
4. Ichikawa the Rock (Japan) 34.4
6. Ochi Dainoji Yosuke (Japan) 34.2
7. Christian Heart Buckboard Sweep (Denmark) 33.5
8. Clay Clay Bangers Connolly (Australia) 33.4
8. Daniel Midnight Moses Robertson (United Kingdom) 33.4
10. Simon Turak Edwards (United Kingdom) 32.8
11. Ramsey James Carlos Slazenger Williamson (Greece) 16.6
11. Maxim Angel of Death Andro (Finland) 16.6
13. Daniel Fahnderstruck Faranna (Italy)16.5
13. Terje Lord Fist Stephansen (Norway) 16.5
15. Aikyu Super IQ Kanagawa (Japan) 16.4
16. Dirk Lord Airness Ldi (Switzerland) 16.3
17. Heine Lord Wolmer van der Walt (South Africa) 16.1
17. Alexander Devil Seducer Gott (Russia) 16.1
19. Oskari Knucklefinger Martimo (Finland) 15.4
20. Aivar Meos (Estonia) 15.1

Both Photos Above From Air Guitar World Championships - Credit: Pasi Lehtinen

2008 AIR GUITAR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Like a polished diamond, the AGWC Network has grown and prospered to a world-wide realm of 18 official AGWC countries. The crme de la crme of Air Guitar compete in national championships before coming to Finland for the battle of the best. One person is annually hailed as the Air Guitar World Champion, the master of an invisible instrument. Countries registered to compete in the 2008 Air Guitar World Championships include UNITED STATES, CANADA, UNITED KINGDOM, NORWAY, GERMANY, NETHERLANDS, DENMARK, SWITZERLAND, FRANCE, ITALY, ESTONIA, GREECE, JAPAN, AUSTRALIA, RUSSIA, AND THE NETHERLANDS.

For the first time ever, a non-Finn emceed this prestigious event. US Air Guitar is proud to announce that our very own BJORN TUROQUE was slotted as this years Master of Ceremonies. We are just glad that there was no King, Lord, or Emperor of Ceremonies to whom he could potentially come in second.

For More Information on the Air Guitar World Championships, Visit: www.airguitarworldchampionships.com

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