Tufte tops own challenge

Tufte rolling the tyre

On the family farm in Horten, Norway’s rowing Olympic Champion in the single, Olaf Tufte brought together a cross section of top athletes to put them through their paces, Tufte-style, for the 2005 Tufte Farmer Challenge.

After eight events including an indoor rowing race, fire fighting in full gear, tyre flipping, a log lift, car pulling, sawing, carrying four 40kg bags of grain and mountain biking Tufte finished in the lead, followed by fellow rowers Stian Kjennvold (former junior medallist) in second, Christian Berntzen in third and Sweden’s top single sculler Lassi Karonen in fourth.

Tufte went into the one day multi-sport competition with fractured ribs. Despite the team doctor wanting to take him out of the competition Tufte refused and, after being taped up, competed in all eight disciplines.

The day’s events on the Tufte farm included music and entertainment in between events and the only part that did not work well was the weather. On average this time of year is dry in Norway but for last weekend’s Tufte Farmer Challenge wind and rain marred the number of attending spectators and made the challenge just that bit tougher for the competitors.

Karonen takes the log

?The rowers show that they are very well trained compared to other athletes/sports,? Tufte commented after racing. ?Sitting here the day after with sore ribs, but without any permanent damage, I think and believe that everyone had a good experience – both athletes and spectators. All very wet, but pleased. Next year we hope more people will try to qualify and even more spectators will come.?

Final standings:
1. Olaf Tufte, Rowing
2. Stian Kjennvold, Rowing
3. Christian Berntzen, Rowing
4. Lassi Karonen, Rowing
5. Knut Holmann, Canoe
6. Espen Wingsternæs, Rowing
7. Lars A. Holt, Rowing
8. Geir Jomaas, Handball
9. Pål Anders Ullevålseter, Enduro bike racer
10. Vegard Barlie, Ice hockey
11. Quincy Douglas, Track & Field / 400m
12. Vegard Høydalen, Volleyball
13. Henning Solberg, WRC Rally

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