Mo. lake sets world record for noodlers

KANSAS CITY, Mo., July 24 (UPI) -- Missouri's Lake Lotawana is claiming a world record for most people floating around on foam noodles, officials say.

With 1,555 people noodling around in the water Saturday, Lake Lotawana beat the previous record of 940 noodles held by rival Weatherby Lake set in 2008, The Kansas City Star reported.

The noodle nonsense was started three years ago by Weatherby Lake homeowner Pete Pierce, who contacted Guinness World Records, which informed him no such category existed. Pierce then formed the Noodle World Authority and claimed the "world record" with his friends.

Weatherby Lake no longer holds the title.

"The new noodle world champions!" proclaim Lake Lotawana organizer Sarah Frashier.

Lake Lotawana also took the record for furthest traveling noodler with someone coming all the way from Egypt for the event. The distance record was previously held by a German participant at Weatherby Lake.

Saturday's event was put into motion by 14-year-old Nikki Weber and her brother Peter.

"Two years ago, [Nikki] was racing sailboats against Weatherby's kids and saw their world record sign," Frashier said. "She asked if we could try to beat it."

And they did.