A word with Kjell Gunnar Noddeland 11.08.2006

Kjell Gunnar Noddeland is a very successful model speed boat racer from Norway. We had a chat on the veranda in beatiful sunshine on the last day of the WC:

Name: Kjell Gunnar Noddeland

Country: Norway

City: Mandal

When did you get started with model speed boats:

When I was 8-9 years old, My father was building big race boats (Class ON or Formula 1) so I had to get a small one. My first RC boat was catamaran with a 7.5cc outboard engine.

What made you start with this hobby:

I was racing big boats, in Formula 4 (a cat for circuit racing with a 850cc outboard), then I had an accident and decided to stop. I wanted something else to do, but it had to also be some kind of racing. So I designed and built my own catamaran looking like the Formula 1 cats. In Norway we race them in the OTA class with 3.5cc outboard engines. Then I started racing in Norway in 1991 with my OTA boats and later I moved on to offshore and hydro as well. I went to my first WC in 1996 in Slovenia and since then I have been to each WC. The results have been good, I have had one gold from each WC, but this time even better with 2 gold medals.

What does your wife say about your hobby:

I have full support, my biggest sponsor!

Your best race:

The whole WC in 1996, Slovenia, was great. It was my first WC and it was exciting, I really like to travel and meet new people and get new friends.

Your worst race:

The O35 final in Slovenia in 2004. I was leading the O35 final with my own boat construction and I was "torpedoed" out of the race. A bad day!

What would you be doing if not model speed boats:

Model car racing, maybe also model air planes too.