From the land where the Sun never really sets came yet another great Grand Slam event in the form of the Onnela Flair Masters that was held in the town of Vantaa just outside of Helsinki in Finland.

We are all aware of the freezing temperatures that takes place during the winter in Finland but none of us were in for the scorching temperatures we experienced last week and not too mention the fact that the sun hardly goes down at all during their summer months. Wearing sunglasses at 12:30 at night is a bit freaky to say the least and gives you more time to party afterwards with crazy Finnish people that loves nothing more than to party non stop!!!

Qualifying took place in one of the massive rooms in the Onnela Club that was conveniently situated next to the Helsinki airport and 21 bartenders (which is a very good number I might add for an 1 day event). The organisation was absolutely fantastic and everything run like clock work thanks to the superior skills and efforts of Timppa and Rane from VIP Bartenders and their team.

Big shout to all the finalists and in particular Team Austria's Markus Klammer and Martin Schlamberger. The ever improving Maciej Chojara and uber original Slava Gazukin from Russia.  The technical combo wizard Marcin Cebula and the Big man from Lithuania with a big big personality Mr. Arturas Grigorjevas. All these guys were pretty close in the qualifying but because of the extremely high level just missed out.

All was set for finals night and after a couple of hours of relaxation the competition kicked off bang on time like none of us experienced in quite a while.

There wasn't much separating the top 3 in the final round and these guys are most definitely the ones pushing flair to new levels with regards to technical and just damn down right big bad ass moves every competition. Congrats to the Beast from Poland, Tomek Malek for giving 100% as always whether in practice, qualifying or finals and winning the 2010 Onnela Flair Masters in Finland.

Tom "the professor" Dyer for busting out some new bad ass moves which truly makes him one of the greatest competing flair bartenders to date and our very own D & G boy, Marek Posluzny for doing his incredible flair combined with an wonderful stage presence in between university exams! Hats of to you my friend!

Big shout to the judges - Andy from WFA, Mika from Shaker Finland and Timppa pa pa pa for lending a hand in the final. Big thanks to our penalty judges - Niko and Lightning from Party Commanders Finland for their assistance.

Big thanks once again to Timppa and Rane and their team from  VIP Bartenders for not only hosting this event but for making it one of the best on the circuit due to hard work and serious passion. We salute you guys and hopefully we can do the same all over again next year.

Events like this would be non existent if not for the sponsors so big shout to Smirnoff, Volare, Battery Energy Drink, Modo Syrups, Flamingo, Holiday Inn & Flamingo Spa and the rest who made this possible!

Some very exciting stuff happening in the coming months from HELLSINKI...but more on that at a later stage.....

Happy days from the land of Moomin's!!!
 
-Tug-
Tug Van Den Bergh

Kilpailun pisteet >>>

Fotoja: http://www.facebook.com/vipbartenders?v=photos#!/album.php?aid=244010&id=178550015900
(kuvat by Kai ”Paroni” Joronen, iso kiitos isolle kaverille näistä)
 
Videot finaalista löytyypi: http://www.baarimestari.fi/tapahtumat/ofm_2010_1.shtml
(videot by Mika ”Modo” Levälampi, IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISO kiitos siitä myös kilpailun juontajana toimineelle herralle)
 
Kisajuttu löytyypi myös: http://www.worldflairassociation.com/onnela-flair-masters-2010-vantaa-finland,pid-301,id-175.aspx
(pitää skrollata, alussa on kisainfo ja lopussa on yhteenveto ja kommentit kisasta/kilpailijoista)

Terveisin: Timppa Nyyssönen



Takaisin