Max Hoeben is considered to be the father of organized boomerang competition in Europe. Max grew up in Amsterdam, Holland in the years prior to World War II. Max was a close friend of Anne Frank who is well known for the literary masterpiece that is her diary. At the beginning of World War II, Max was moved to Germany and forced to work in German factories.for the Axis war machinery. Max escaped with a friend and made his way back to Holland, only to be captured when German troops were out searching for an American pilot who parachuted after his plane was shot down. Max was returned to the labor camps in Germany, but he escaped a second time and made it successfully back to Holland where he hid out until the end of the war. Max worked many odd jobs after the war ended. He i even well known in Holland for authoring many detective novels! One of his work assignments brought him to Australia where he was introduced to boomerang throwing. Max met many of the legendary boomerang makers and throwers of the 1960s and early 1970s. After returning to Holland, Max and his partner, Tonny Van der Gyp, formed the Holland Boomerang Association and invited throwers from all over Europe to participate in the first European tournaments. This happened at the same time that Ben Ruhe was introducing boomerangs to the Americans. Max promoted boomerangs on TV, on the radio and in publications. My archives are full of video that Max saved and passed on to me for my archives to share with others. Max visited me in Ann Arbor in 1997. His health was poor, but he remained full of energy. On the days that I had to work, Max entertained himself by walking all over Ann Arbor and introducing himself to every store and restaurant manager, jut t make friends. The entire town missed him when he left to go back to Holland. Max died on 5 December 2001. He is missed by everyone in the boomerang community.

This very large 6 bladed pinwheel boomerang was made in the 1970s out of European Pine blades. The original bolt set is included. One of the sticks has Max Hoeben's original decal. The range is probably 15 - 20 metres. A rare collectable in excellent condition. Shipping of this item will cost extra because of it's size. I will probably have to ship it in a mailing tube. It may be expensive to ship thi boomerang overseas because the length prohibits shipping by First Class Airmail.