The Worlds Fastest Drummer competition celebrated its tenth anniversary as a featured attraction at NAMM Summer Session 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. The contest consisted of two categories, Battle of the Hands™ and Battle of the Feet™. The Preliminary Heats were held July 21th and 22th. Included in the event were technical demonstrations, insight sessions, and appearances by WFD Champions and World Record Holders Matt Smith and Eric Okamoto.

The top ten Fastest Hands and top ten Fastest Feet then stepped into battle at WFD World Finals, on Saturday, July 23rd.  The event was open to the public as a feature attraction for NAMM’s Wanna Play Music Day!  Also appearing was musical director Derrek Phillips, bassist Alana Rocklin, and Miss WFD 2011 Sammi, from Jacksonville, Fl.

The Battle of the Hands winner was 24 year old Joseph ‘Thunder From Down Under’ Moujalli of Sydney, Australia, with 995 single strokes in 60 seconds. Rick Alegria of San Jose, California, placed second (870), while Dale Bartholomew of Nashville, Tennessee, placed third (812). The Battle of the Feet winner was Kevin Bernardy of Oklahoma with a score of 860 single strokes, followed by a tie between Leonardo Baroncini (845), and Isaac Harris (845), third place went to Stephen Sparks (791). Advertisement

Dan Laskowski, who traveled with his wife Bridgette from Canada and placed fourth for fastest feet (787) added, “Since I began my journey competing at WFD 9 years ago, I have learned that nothing is impossible!!”

Three new WFD World Records were set including the first ever WFD ‘upside down’ endurance record. Clifford Marshall Van Buren played 6300 single strokes on the Drumometer while hanging upside down for ten minutes. WFD Champ Eric Okamoto set two WFD records of 1744 in closed doubles and 1155 to 1279 in paradiddles breaking his previous records of 1620 closed double and 1159 in paradiddles.

“This year’s Finals were totally wall to wall excitement! We had contestants from around the world including Taiwan, Australia, the Bahamas, and Canada. It was the type of event I envisioned some 35 years ago, especially seeing young WFD Champs like Joey Moujalli starting their own charities such as Drum Against Cancer, Beating Cancer with a Beat!,” said Boo McAfee, creator of WFD. Advertisement

Over $12,000 in prizes were provided by Pearl, Sabian, Remo, Axis, ProMark, Power Wrist Builders, Modern Drummer, Alfred Publishing and Drumometer.

For more information on Joseph Moujalli’s kids cancer charity “Drum Against Cancer, Beating Cancer with a Beat!” visit www.facebook.com/groups/45960176130/#.

For more on WFD and upcoming events please visit www.WorldsFastestDrummer.com or email Info@WorldsFastestDrummer.com.

Pictured top, left to right: WFD referee, Matt Smith; Miss WFD, Sammi; Battle Of The Hands winner, Joseph Moujalli; Battle Of The Feet winner, Kevin Bernardy; WFD referee, Eric Okamoto. Above right: Upside down record holder, Clifford Marshall Van Buren.