Olympic medallist in rowing, clothes entrepreneur, event maker, public speaker and farmer Olaf Tufte has driven a tractor since childhood. He relishes coming home and just getting into his tractor again after all the travelling.
“I drove a Volvo BM 400 as a kid. When I was around 16 or 17 I got the keys to the farm’s International 574 as a Christmas present from my father, Sigurd Olaf. He just dropped the keys in my hands. I remember I had just started rowing seriously,” Olaf Tufte recalls.
The 44-year-old Norwegian made his Olympic debut in Atlanta in 1996. Since then, he has won four Olympic medals and six World Cup medals, including several gold medals.
“The biggest motivation is that it is fun and in constant development. With 220 travel days and 1000 to 1200 training hours each year, there are long periods with little sleep. That makes training camp seem like a holiday,” he laughs.
Olaf Tufte participated in his first Olympic Games at the age of 20. With more than 200 travel days a year, he enjoys coming home and getting back in his Valtra to relax. Here he is with his dog Sera.
Over 20 years of Valmet/Valtra ownership
In addition to being one of the best rowers in the world, Tufte produces grain and firewood at the Tufte farm in Nykirke outside Horten in Norway with his wife and two children. On the family farm they have a Valtra A93 and a Valtra N154.“Our first Valtra was a Valmet 6300, which we bought more than 20 years ago. I still drive Valtra tractors because they are versatile, simple to use and durable,” Tufte confirms.
Tufte has established a large event company and his own clothing brand, and he is also a public speaker. In 2008 he established Team Tufte with the national rowing association to support young athletes, and in 2014 he won a celebrity version of the TV show «71° Nord».
“It’s always nice to come home, get in the Valtra, turn off the mobile and just drive the tractor. It doesn’t matter if it’s loading firewood or working in the fields.”
Olaf Tufte drives Valtra tractors because they are versatile, simple to use and durable.
The farmhouse hosts everything from weddings to Tufte team building events.
“We transport a lot of hurdles, and I still like to use my body, but my father likes to use the Valtra. The exercises include everything from simple things to tough challenges, including backing up the tractor with a trailer attached. Service is important to me because of my busy schedule. Roar Enerhaugen and the others at our dealer are fantastic, and their customer service has been superb for all the years that we have driven a Valtra,” says Olaf Tufte.
