I know the feeling and I think that is what has attracted most of us
to the boomerang. I have been making and throwing boomerangs now for
40 years. I still remember the first time I saw one thrown. My wife
and I were at a birthday party close to a park when I saw at a
distance some guys throwing a boomerang. I eventually made my way
over to them and introduced myself. My first question was where did
they get it. One of the guys spoke up and said his ship stopped off
in Sydney, Australia on thier way back from Viet Nam. I was
mezmerised by it's flight and looked it over trying to figure out the
airfoils so that I could make my own. My first boom was made at work
with a hack saw blade wrapped with cloth to form a handle cutting
thru 3 ply plywood and using files to make the airfoil. One of my co-
workers chided me and said if your so confident about this boomerang
go throw it out over the water and if it works you get it back. I
took him up and about 4 of us made our way to the back of the
chemical plant. I was supposed to walk up on a levee and throw out
over the water but because of security driving around I was hesistant
and told the guys I would throw from the ground level out over the
levee. The guy who challenged me stayed next to a big tank drinking a
cup of coffee with one foot on the tank to steady himself. I walked
out and threw but the boomerang went to low and hit the levee bounced
straight up and them came back like a buzz saw causing my challenger
to jump out of the way and spilling his coffee. My boomerang broke
hitting the tank but I couldn't have asked for a more memorable
ending to my first toss. I too am intriqued with the flight of long
distance booms. It is truly amazing to witness the flight of a
boomerang that goes out so far that you can not see it for a time and
then have it hone in on the base line. They are truly amazing!

Bob Rudy









--- In Boomerang_Talk@yahoogroups.com, Glenn <gac3825@...> wrote:
>
> Hey everyone.
>
> Two good stories there. I can only imagine what it's like to throw
100m and have a near-perfect return.
>
> One day....
>
> Glenn.
>
> --- On Sun, 5/11/08, CHRIS KALFA <chriskalfa@...> wrote:
>
> > From: CHRIS KALFA <chriskalfa@...>
> > Subject: Re: [Boomerang_Talk] A thing of beauty
> > To: Boomerang_Talk@yahoogroups.com
> > Date: Sunday, May 11, 2008, 3:23 AM
> > Hi Bruce,
> > Ahhhhh yes, a thing of beauty indeed. I remember when I
> > first had that cherry popped, if you can count the Colorado
> > Kilimanjaro close to that category. I remember the B-Mans
> > description in his catalog about the long lumbering flight
> > that just looks like it'll never return, yet does ! I
> > was out at the Lake Michigan waterfront here in Kenosha,
> > eyed the flag in the foreground to re-check wind direction.
> > Staring at the rang in my hands, watching people on and
> > around the beach and pier. Looking at the flag, the rang
> > the flag, feeling the heft to the rang, than over to where
> > my boys stood watching and waiting. It felt like the right
> > time was now here, upon the patch of sand where I stood. I
> > adjusted the grip on the boom, changed my stance a bit, and
> > just let it rip.
> > I was just like.........wow ! I watched it go and go and
> > go a bit more. Than it seemed to slowly veer off to the
> > left and go some more, before completing its arc and
> > returned to me. I actually took a step back when I made the
> > catch. It came in about waist level, and fast. I was like
> > you, exactly..........soooo coool ! After I sent it off on
> > about it's third trip, did I realize that I had a crowd
> > on the pier watching, let alone a third of the beach goers
> > behind me watching as well. Now I was just like make this
> > last catch, and back into the water I went, to cool off a
> > bit. I entered that deaf / dumb state where all else
> > didn't matter, I became one with the wood, one with the
> > rang. My eyes never left it's orange-white lumbering
> > flight till after I caught it.
> > From that moment forward, I was hooked on the longer
> > distance rangs. Thanks for sharing your story Bruce. This
> > is what's is all about. Making memories and living them
> > daily. I have since aquired a night version that takes glow
> > sticks in each arm. Amazing to see after dark. Chris n
> > Kenosha
> >
> > Bruce <brucembernstein@...> wrote:
> > Hi everyone,
> >
> > Since there's really no one in my life who would
> > really care, or even
> > understand this story, I figured I'd post it here for
> > the few who
> > could actually understand my and perhaps share in my
> > excitement.
> >
> > Most of the rangs I make and have acquired so far are
> > 40-80 meter
> > type of sticks, and I've been getting the hankering to
> > throw LD.
> >
> > I've thrown Red Rocket, Mini Marathon weighted, Crazy
> > Horse type
> > sticks with reasonable success, but I was never quite
> > truly
> > satisified with the results.
> >
> > I recently acquired a 3mm G11 Buzz Whip, but have been a
> > might afraid
> > to throw it since I hadn't tossed that type of stick
> > before.
> >
> > So yesterday, the conditions were reasonable, so I screwed
> > up my
> > courage,loosened up with some of my regular suspects, and
> > then picked
> > up the Buzz Whip.
> >
> > The first flight was OK.... not bad, and the rang seemed
> > to do what
> > it was supposed to, but I obviously didn't "go
> > for it", and the lack
> > of a complete return was the result.
> >
> > So I figured, "hell with it - let's see what
> > happens". I cocked it
> > back, and gave it a fairly hard throw with a little less
> > layover, and
> > a bit more snap.
> >
> > It was a thing of beauty!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd describe
> > the flight as the
> > DuF pattern described in the LD book (Circular rather than
> >
> > elliptical). It just took to the air and flew and flew and
> > then flew
> > so more. If I had to guess, I'd say a the farthest
> > point it must of
> > been close to 100 yards if not more(but I know how wrong I
> > could be
> > in that estimate) but my jaw dropped and I started
> > muttering to
> > myself about how amazing it was. Then as it started its
> > return, it
> > started to dawn on me, that it was actually coming right
> > back to me!!!
> >
> > I couldn't believe it!!! It was slowing down, dropping
> > and coming in
> > at midchest level, and I CAUGHT IT!!!!!! If I even took 2
> > steps, I'd
> > be amazed. It was just sooooooooo cool. Indeed, it was
> > beautiful!
> >
> > I'm still smiling, and don't mind the welt on my
> > arm in the least.
> >
> > Bruce (still grinning) Bernstein
> > Chicago, IL
> >
> > "Rangs by Bruce"
> > http://members.aol.com/rangsbybruce
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ---------------------------------
> > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo!
> > Mobile. Try it now.
>
>
>
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