All of the controls are guarded by control personel during WOC 2019, among other things to make sure no controls are removed. Sheltered by a small evergreen tree we found Gerd Klavestad from Fredrikstad SK during the men’s long-distance final.

- I was placed at a control at a deep for four hours on Saturday and will stay at this narrow marsh for eight hours today. We stay as quiet as we can to avoid leading any of the runners into the control.

The control guards are supposed to be the least visible of the 700 volunteers for WOC 2019..

Klavestad joined Fredrikstad SK in 1982. At first they accompanied their children, and nowadays they follow up their grandchildren. 
-I’ve never been more than a motioneer myself, and now I can’t say that I’m an active runner anymore. But we’ve always tried to support the club with voluntary work, Gerd tells us.

- What do you do if someone actually tries to take the control flag with them?

- The control guards will try to avoid it, but we don’t g og into fights for them either. We rather try to take a photo of the perpetrator, alert our closest responsible persons, and stay at the control point to let passing runners know that they’ve been registered at the control and are free to proceed.

- Have any WOC competitors asked for your help so far?
- No, no one have.

- How do you get the hours to pass in the forest?
- I need to stand up and stretch every once in a while. I make notes of passing athletes and listen to the arena announcer, although the sound is a bit hollow. I’ve also brought a book that I read.

Saturday marks the highlight of this WOC for Gerd.

- I’ve always found the relays exciting and fun. And with no duties I will follow the relays from the arena, our control guard whispers with a smile.