When was the last time you even considered throwing a boomerang? Assuming you’re not an indigenous native of Australia, the answer is probably decades ago. And, no doubt, after spending half an hour one summer holiday in the park with your dad failing to get the thing to come back to you, it got consigned to the back of the shed and stayed there.
Perhaps it’s time you got the boomerang out again.
Throwing a boomerang is easy – getting the boomerang to fly back is a little harder When done properly, boomerang throwing can be an immensely satisfying activity – requiring less skill, technique and power than you might think. Plus, once you’ve finally mastered it, you’re guaranteed to impress anyone within view.
From its Aboriginal roots as a hunting weapon 10,000 years ago (although one boomerang-like weapon fashioned from a mammoth’s tusk was recently found in Poland and is thought to be 30,000 years old) the bent throwing stick that comes back to you has endured and today is gaining traction as a sport in its own right. There is now an array of boomerang competitions, ranging from achieving maximum distance and time in the air to spectacular trick shots and catches.
Throwing a boomerang is easy – getting the boomerang to fly back is a little harder. The trick is to launch it at the right angle, with enough spin and, of course, throwing it into the wind. It takes practice – but once you’ve mastered it the results are spectacular.
As well as the physical satisfaction, many boomerang devotees cite the mental stimulation the sport brings. The repetitive nature of throw and catch, throw and catch; calculating the geometry of the throw; judging the wind speed and strength. Enthusiasts talk of a zen-like calm that comes from a good boomerang session.
Most throwers are adults, and the skills they display at competition level are breathtakingBritish Boomerang Society children from as young as five can accurately throw (and catch) boomerangs – and competitions generally start from the age of 11. But don’t be embarrassed into thinking that it’s exclusively a children’s activity – most throwers are adults, and the skills they display at competition level are breathtaking.
The British Boomerang Society organises regular competitions but also welcomes members who are completely new to the sport, or just want to learn how to throw and catch a boomerang in the park on a Sunday morning. It also exists as a community of enthusiasts – with the social aspect of the sport as important as the competitive.
It costs just £15 a year to be a member, and it’s a great way to learn about a sport that combines physical skill with mental focus – and that will turn even the most respectable middle-aged man into an enthusiastic kid again.