Boomerang Throwing Competition
Now here's a fun way to spend an afternoon!
Home Valley Station guests can create a family team or join other guests and take part in the fun of a Boomerang Throwing Competition.
Utilising the international rules determined by the sport governing boomerang throwing just slightly altered for our guests, two teams of up to 10 guests can try their hand at the ancient tool used by Australia's Indigenous people.
The History of Boomerangs
Contrary to popular belief, the boomerang did not originate in Australia. Historical traces of boomerangs have been found throughout the world. Boomerangs are considered by many to be the earliest "heavier-than-air" flying machines invented by human beings. Australian Indigenous boomerangs have been found as old as ten thousand years old, but older hunting sticks have been discovered throughout Europe. The famed King Tutankhamen of Egypt had an extensive collection of boomerangs over 2000 years ago.
Although historians are not certain of the exact origin of the first boomerang, it is speculated that the boomerang was developed from a flattened throwing stick, used by early hunters. The returning boomerang was most likely discovered by accident by an early hunter trying to fine tune a hunting stick. The modern boomerang is most commonly associated with Australia because it has been preserved in its highest state of development by Indigenous Australians. Since the Indigenous Australians are one of the few cultures in history never to develop a bow and arrow, their heavy dependence on the boomerang for hunting has ensured its preservation.
The modern boomerang has been refined over time to the state of the art boomerang materials such as paxolin and carbon fibre. The use of Finnish birch wood has been found to be useful for more durable wooden boomerangs. Aircraft wind-foil design programs and Computer Aided Drawing programs are used to optimize flight characteristics. Modern competition boomerangs can stay aloft for up to several minutes time and distances over 200 yards.
Typology of Competitive Boomerang
Across the world, notably in Australia and America, boomerangs are thrown competitively in a number of different events, some of which are:
Boomerang Throwing Competition
Home Valley Station guests can create a family team or join other guests and take part in the fun of a Boomerang Throwing Competition.
Utilising the international rules determined by the sport governing boomerang throwing just slightly altered for our guests, two teams of up to 10 guests can try their hand at the ancient tool used by Australia's Indigenous people.
The History of Boomerangs
Contrary to popular belief, the boomerang did not originate in Australia. Historical traces of boomerangs have been found throughout the world. Boomerangs are considered by many to be the earliest "heavier-than-air" flying machines invented by human beings. Australian Indigenous boomerangs have been found as old as ten thousand years old, but older hunting sticks have been discovered throughout Europe. The famed King Tutankhamen of Egypt had an extensive collection of boomerangs over 2000 years ago.
Although historians are not certain of the exact origin of the first boomerang, it is speculated that the boomerang was developed from a flattened throwing stick, used by early hunters. The returning boomerang was most likely discovered by accident by an early hunter trying to fine tune a hunting stick. The modern boomerang is most commonly associated with Australia because it has been preserved in its highest state of development by Indigenous Australians. Since the Indigenous Australians are one of the few cultures in history never to develop a bow and arrow, their heavy dependence on the boomerang for hunting has ensured its preservation.
The modern boomerang has been refined over time to the state of the art boomerang materials such as paxolin and carbon fibre. The use of Finnish birch wood has been found to be useful for more durable wooden boomerangs. Aircraft wind-foil design programs and Computer Aided Drawing programs are used to optimize flight characteristics. Modern competition boomerangs can stay aloft for up to several minutes time and distances over 200 yards.
Typology of Competitive Boomerang
Across the world, notably in Australia and America, boomerangs are thrown competitively in a number of different events, some of which are:
- Accuracy - throws are made from the centre of a set of circles marked on the ground. Points are awarded for how close it lands to the bullseye.
- Trick Catch - for example, one-handed, behind the back, under the leg, caught with feet, and so on. (Tricks are also performed with two boomerangs simultaneously).
- Australian Round - tests the distance of the throw, the accuracy of the return, and the skill of the catch over five attempts.
- Fast Catch - making five throws and catches as quickly as possible with the same boomerang.
- Endurance - involves making as many throws as possible over a five-minute period.
- Doubles - throwing and catching two boomerangs at the same time.
- Maximum Time Aloft - the longest of five throws to stay in the air - the current record is 17 minutes 6 seconds by John Gorski, in Ohio, USA on 8 August 1993.
- Juggling - keeping two boomerangs in the air at the same time for as long as possible.
- Long Distance - where points are awarded on distance thrown.
- Freestyle - where points awarded for height, speed, style, and general finesse.
Boomerang Throwing Competition
- Includes boomerang and referee
- Available to all guests daily from 3pm, subject to numbers
- 2 hours duration
- Prizes are awarded nightly at the Dusty Bar & Grill Restaurant at 7pm
- Guests are welcome to compete with each other at anytime, without a referee - at no charge
