Volker Behrens, former European Champion and ex-
Guinness World Record Holder.
Best place to be: on horseback in Big Sky Country
Volker Behrens: Facts
First boomerang thrown: 1966
First boomerang caught: 1983
First boomerang made: 1983
Achievements
Former European and Guiness World Record holder for long distance.
Twice captain of the German World Boomerang Cup Team.
Maker and designer of various record-breaking boomerangs.
First boomerang maker to use Paxolin in MTA, Doubling and Fast Catch models.
First maker to incorporate carbon fiber technology in boomerang design.
Personal background
Horses - throwing (and making) knives, frisbees, boomerangs, archery, golf, swords,
all of these have been hobbies of mine. An interesting boomerang/archery
statistical detail here: I found out some time ago that both Al
Gerhards (USA) and Herb Smith UK), my predecessors
for long distance desinging, had also been archers - along with being
record-breaking distance throwers. That tells you something about
the shared quest for distance and control. Also, to my knowledge, Herb
Smith was British archery champion (at 30m distance) at one time.
Now, when I am not enjoying a horseback ride across country, I often find myself playing golf (again, that distance and control thing ...) - 17.8 handicap for those who are interested; and now and then, I still enjoy a round of arrows or knives.
History, credits
Herb Smith - Eric Darnell - Wilhelm Bretfeld . My gratitude and late appreciation goes out to these three people, who taught me, shared some of their knowledge about boomerangs and aerodynamics with me and inspired me broadly in my own work.
- Above and before all, thanks to Herb A. Smith for all his pioneer work in long distance design - and sharing and exchanging with me some of his boomerang designs and ideas. I first met Herb at a tournament in Southhampton, UK in 85, where we first discussed boom design and swapped some rangs. We met again on other occasions later and have kept a vivid exchange of ideas and have swapped designs later, too. He adapted my Challenger principles and I was allowed to have my go at making my interpretations of some of my favourite models of his: the Mini Marathon, the Tornado Shorty and the pax Sussex Hook. He gave me permission to use these in my line of rangs already back in 88. He was the one first-of-them-all pioneer in the field of long distance boomerangs (which didn't exist before!) AND the implication of paxolin in the sport- for all of you who didn't know - and he got me on it right away after I tried out his stuff for the first time. Since then my little shop in the backyard ("Paxolin City" it's called now....) never smelled the same anymore (nice wooden sawdust...). He also gave me my first deep insights on the effects of assymmetrical weighting and all the impact on long distance mechanics. Without him my life and long distance boomeranging certainly wouldn't have been the same. Upon repeated request for information and as a service to the boom fans all over the world I publish a copy of the Boomerang News special on Herb on these pages. >More |
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- Thanks to Eric Darnell for being the founder of modern sports boomerang design in all its sophistication. And for having me around for a while and letting me pick his brain (and rummage through his basement shop, where I have made some wonderful poly rangs that I still treasure....) when we first met in 87. Without this my Windeaters probably would not exist....
-Thanks to Wilhelm Bretfeld for opening the door onto the field of airfoil characteristics. For getting me into touch with the exciting world of modern boomeranging.
- Special thanks Ben "Guru" Ruhe, most of all, another person that continuously has been a motivation and drive for me to keep on my quest for the Challenger.
For all of the above mentioned for sharing their knowledge open heartedly. For making the world a place of better rangs.
Mahalo!
Volker Behrens