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Joe Timberey (Australia)
Joe Timberey is known to many as the Grandfather of modern boomerangs.
Born almost a century ago in Australia, Joe is responsible for helping
popularize and spread boomerangs throughout the world. Joe grew up
in an Australian suburb known as La Parouse, which is located above
the shores of Frenchman's Bay. He learned to shape and throw boomerangs
as a kid, under the direction of an aboriginal known as Ned Hosking,
who was regarded as the best boomerang thrower of the area in the
1920's. The post WWI era was very important to the growth of boomerangs
as most of the tourists that came to Australia at this time were introduced
to boomerang throwing through fairs and booths that were set up to
demonstrate the amazing returning stick. However, following the Great
Depression, the tourist market soon dried up and the boomerang fairs
were no longer put on. In order to support himself Joe made trips
up the coast to Queensland, over 1000km away selling boomerangs he
made from a sack. Joe continued to sell boomerangs through out the
depression, and soon was married with children of his own. Joe taught
his kids to throw and shape boomerangs, and his sons soon became very
skilled throwers while his daughters decorated the boomerangs the
Timberey's made.
In the early 1950's Joe met Duncan Maclennan and the two eventually
formed a lifelong friendship and partnership. Duncan sold Joe's boomerangs
at his bath houses and eventually at his World famous boomerang school
in Kings Cross, which is still in operation today. One day an American
visitor came to Duncan's shop with a boomerang he had bought in the
1930's. He asked Duncan if he knew who hade made the boomerang, as
it was the finest boomerang he had even seen. It was a Joe Timberey
boomerang, and Joe and the visitor were soon introduced. It turned
out that the visiting American was John Gerrish, one of the founders
of boomerang throwing in the USA. In 1954 Joe was asked to throw his
boomerangs during a celebration for the visiting Queen of England.
Joe's first throw went over 50 meters and as the boomerang approached
during its return, Joe laid on his back and caught the boomerang with
his feet. Joe then threw 10 boomerangs back to back, the last one
being thrown as the 1st landed at his feet, and caught them all in
succession successfully.
Joe was regarded by those who knew him as not only the best boomerang
maker and thrower, but also one of the nicest people to know. Many
of Joe's boomerangs have ended up in the Smithsonian Museum. Joe Timberey
is heavily responsible for spreading modern boomerangs to the rest
of the world, and could be one of the earliest developers of the Trick
Catch.
Herb Smith (U.K.)
Herb Smith is regarded by many to be the father of Long Distance throwing.
He was one of the first designers to come up with the modern hook
shaped boomerang and the first to add weights to the wings in an attempt
to make his boomerangs fly further. Herb was also responsible for
other firsts as well. In the early 1980's Herb was the first to attempt
to use composite materials to shape boomerangs. His early compounds
consisted of plywood-fiberglass composites. He eventually moved on
to Paxolin, a paper/cotton laminate (commonly used in modern circuit
boards) which is very tough, flexible and heavier than plywood. Herb
was the first person to ever throw past the 100 meter mark and even
in his old age was able to throw over 120 meters. During the mid 1980's
Herb was successfully able to throw a boomerang around the Washington
Monument, using his weighted "Sportsmen" model! Herb was
a huge influence on Volker Behrens (Blue Star Boomerangs) and taught
Volker about using Paxolin for boomerangs. Herb incorporated some
of the ideas behind Volker's "Challenger" model into his
own designs and in return allowed Volker to make adaptations of some
of his models including the "Marathon", "Tornado"
and "Sussex Hook" models. Many regard Herb's boomerangs
as some of the most elegant boomerang shape designs ever.
Roger Perry (Australia)
Roger Perry has been a long-time boomerang enthusiast and participant
in the boomerang world. He has lead the Australian Boomerang Team
in the World Boomerang Championships for the last 10 years. Roger
has also served as the President of both the Boomerang Association
of Australia as well as the World Boomerang Association. His innovative
ideas have been applied to Rangs Boomerangs, which is now the largest
aerodynamic boomerang manufacturer in the world under his ownership.
Mr. Perry is an expert at both crafting wooden and polypropylene boomerangs
with unique designs. Roger has been instrumental in this industry's
growth and he has been a tremendous resource for this website both
in sharing his knowledge and personal anecdotes about many of the
early pioneers of the sport.
Check out Roger Perry's Spinback
Boomerangs website here
Check out Roger Perry's Rangs Boomerangs website here
Stéphane Marguerite (France)
Stéphane Marguerite has been throwing for over 25 years and
has thrown in every Boomerang World Cup since its creation in 1988.
Since then he has led both the French and Canadian teams in the World
Cup on numerous occasions. He has broken many French, Canadian, and
World records throughout his lifetime, including events such as Fast
Catch, Australian Round, and Endurance events and was even in the
Guinness Book of World Records in 1991 for most Consecutive Catches.
His dedication and love for the sport has led him to host demonstrations,
teach classes and speak to schools and others on the subject of boomerangs.
His passion continues through his company Wallaby Boomerangs, where
he dedicates himself to ensure that all people have a chance to throw
a boomerang.
Eric Darnell (USA)
Eric Darnell is the inventor of the modern sports boomerang, which
can be distinguished by the use of asymmetrical wings and flared wingtips.
Eric is an inventor by nature and is known for his original designs.
Presently he is regarded as the finest maker of injection molded polypropylene
boomerangs in the World. Eric was the first person to ever make a
double handed throw (one right-handed and one left-handed, thrown
simultaneously across his chest). In addition, Eric was one of the
first to promote throwing the boomerang from the dingle arm (trailing
arm). This notion of pulling the lift arm rather than pushing it,
allows for better control and greater momentum, proving for much better
performance. He is the creator of some of the greatest boomerang technology
in use today and a huge influence on many great modern throwers and
shapers. Eric is also known for co-authoring one of the best books
on boomerangs with Ben Ruhe.
Information in this Section is Courtesy of Roger Perry, Eric Darnell, and Stephan Margeurite |
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