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Justin Magaldi 鈥�13 is a drummer. He started playing in high school, and though he still plays today, there鈥檚 another instrument that calls to him on a more consistent basis. One could say he carries the instrument with him wherever he goes, slung across his back in all of its invisible rock-glam glory. He envisions it as a black or silver Axe鈥攖o match his black stage garb鈥攁nd he keeps it well tuned because he never knows when he鈥檒l need to jam.

When Magaldi, costumed in a tank top over black meggings (his self-described man-leggings), steps on stage to compete in the U.S. Air Guitar Championships, he leaves his everyday self behind to become Smiley Rod.

Magaldi has been competing for four years and intends to keep on going. Last year was his best yet, including a first place finish at the qualifier, then third place during the New York semifinal at New York鈥檚 famed Bowery Ballroom, and finally seventh place overall at the national finals in Kansas City, Missouri, on August 9, 2014. The winner of the national championship is sponsored to compete in the annual world championship in Finland, which is the ultimate goal for any competitor.听

鈥淎t the national championship, I wanted to bring a guitar case for my instrument but it鈥檚 like $20 extra. It just wasn鈥檛 worth it,鈥� Magaldi said.

Four years of air guitar competition with top rankings might seem like veteran territory to most, but Magaldi still considers himself a rookie. 鈥淚 know guys who鈥檝e been doing it ten-plus years,鈥� he said.

He described a community full of good vibes, to the point that many competitors will mentor others in small ways to ensure the newcomers continue to hone their craft. 鈥淭he community of people is so much fun,鈥� Magaldi said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not really a competition to anyone else. It鈥檚 just a day to let loose and have a blast.鈥�

Still, Magaldi prepares carefully before each performance.

A few weeks before any competition, he鈥檒l start picking apart his song and figure out how he wants his routine to go. Then he鈥檒l pop his headphones on and practice his performance in the basement or backyard. 鈥淚鈥檒l [complete my routine] like I鈥檓 doing it in front of an audience to make sure I can actually accomplish the jump or to make sure the power slide doesn鈥檛 hurt too bad,鈥� he said with a huge smile. Suddenly, it鈥檚 evident how he got his nickname.

鈥淢y persona is very happy-go-lucky, very fast, lots of jumping around, a big ball of energy,鈥� he said.

Signature moves? Maybe not signature, but he has his favorites. He said he鈥檒l typically start off with the biggest jump he can manage, somehow work in a throw and catch power slide鈥攎eaning he鈥檒l throw the Axe and catch it at the end of a slide鈥攚hile mixing in copious amounts of head banging.

鈥淢om鈥檚 pretty proud,鈥� he joked.

But there is a more serious side to Magaldi鈥檚 air guitar devotion, one that complements his work in youth ministry in Long Beach, New York, where he serves as the director of faith formation at St. Mary of the Isle parish.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e holding an air guitar, you can鈥檛 hold a gun,鈥� Magaldi said, quoting an unknown Finnish man who helped start the air guitar championships. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about teaching kids to get out of their own heads to just have fun.鈥�