Mrs Bolstad said her son began woodchopping as a young child and had been an axeman for more than 30 years. He had competed at events throughout the world. It was reported he had won more than 50 major woodchopping championships worldwide.
Mr Bolstad often competed in events at Rotorua's annual A&P Show, where his mother presented the Sonny Bolstad Memorial trophy named after her husband, also a world-class axeman.
Mrs Bolstad said her son was a "gentle giant". "He was a serious man and very good father... He was always a sensible person."
After leaving Rotorua Mr Bolstad had moved to Tokoroa and then Taumarunui. Mrs Bolstad said her son had made an impact on a lot of people's lives. "He was very well known and very well liked," she said.
A close friend of Mr Bolstad, Barugh Heather, said Mr Bolstad's death would be a huge loss to the sport of woodchopping.
Mr Bolstad's funeral will be held tomorrow at the Taumarunui War Memorial Hall at 11am. He is survived by his wife, Michelle, daughter Brooke, 9, and son Morgan, 7. Abigail Hartevelt