9A1UN Davor “Dave” Kucelin
Team: Southeast Europe 1
Country: Croatia
Age: 29
Occupation: Hotel reception desk manager
9A1UN Davor “Dave” Kucelin
I got in touch with ham radio almost when I was born. My dad is 9A2RD and my grandfather used to be 9A2BN. As a little kid I was always interested in what they were doing for hours and hours in that shack. My first contest was a VHF contest which I actually won at age 11. Since then I’m active in most major contests. Around 2000 we started building an HF contest station on a little hill outside our home town. We usually participate as Multi-Single, 9A1P in most contests, but have tried all multi-operator categories during the years.
In 2006 I participated in my first WRTC in Brazil, as one of the young teams, with Matteo, IZ3EYZ. It was one of my dreams come true, just being there was an incredible experience. I liked so much meeting all those guys I worked hundreds of times on the air and now adding a face to their callsign. We managed to win young teams competition and placed in the middle of the scoreboard. It was very hard to qualify for WRTC2014 in selection area EU#5 and I’m grateful to my team leader Hrle, 9A6XX, for making this qualification possible. For me, 2013 was a great and busy year as I managed to finish my studies, get married, and my little daughter Sara was born in September. I’m very thankful to my wife Barbara and my complete family for understanding and letting me enjoy ham radio contesting as I do.
I’m looking forward to WRTC2014 as a great opportunity to meet friends I know on the air for years and of course to compete against the best contesters in the world