Event Recap: 2026 US Boomerang Team Trials glide into Arlington

April 6, 2026

Richard Bower and his twin brother, Daniel, reside in Shoreline and Edmonds, respectively. If you saw the pair at their places of work or out and about, you’d think they’re just local people working jobs and spending time with their families. Even though all of those details are true, what you probably wouldn’t know is that the brothers are very well known on the international stage. Not only are they some of the longest-tenured members of the United States Boomerang Association (USBA), they’re also some of the top boomerang throwers in the world.

Richard and Daniel have participated at all World Boomerang Championships since 2004, which is the equivalent of the FIFA World Cup™ in the sport of soccer. The brothers, along with 2024 reigning individual world champion Logan Broadbent from Cleveland, Ohio, have made up the core of the U.S. squad since 2008 and have been members of U.S. world championship teams from the following years: 2010 (Rome, Italy), 2016 (Kiel, Germany) and 2018 (Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA). Recently at the 2024 World Boomerang Championships in Westminster, Colorado, Richard placed fourth and Daniel 12th, helping one of the U.S. teams, Raditude, finish second, only eight points shy of the champions, BR Rangs, from Brazil.

Going back in time, the World Boomerang Championships were held each year starting in the 1980s but eventually moved to every two years in the 1990s. So, this year marks the brothers’ 22nd-consecutive season as world boomerang throwers.

What’s also unique is that from March 27-29, Twin Rivers Park in Arlington served as a first-time host site of the 2026 US Boomerang Team Trials. The event was an opportunity for participants to earn a spot on the 2026 U.S. team, which will travel to Bandung, Indonesia, for the 2026 World Boomerang Championships from July 26-Aug. 5. Previously, Lake Stevens Community Park was the location for the 2018 US Boomerang National Championships and 2022 US Team Trials. But Richard, who is also the current USBA president, moved the tournament to different areas in Seattle over the past few years.

So, how all of a sudden did a national team trial event ever make its way to Arlington? One week before the 2025 U.S. National Boomerang Championships in Tennessee, Richard’s sister, Katie, planned a drive through north Snohomish County, specifically Darrington. She drove into downtown Arlington and alongside a 50-acre field. She stopped, took a photo of the space and sent it to Richard asking if it would be suitable for boomerang. He replied excitedly, “I think this field looks good for boomerangs.” The weekend after nationals, the brothers arrived at the park, walked and measured the space, which eventually led to scheduling this year’s team trials.

In 2015, King 5 produced a piece featuring Richard and Daniel one year after their trip to the 2014 World Boomerang Cup in Perth, Australia; Richard placed third and Daniel eighth. Boomerang has also made a presence in Whatcom County. In 2025, Cascadia Daily News covered the inaugural Bellingham Boomfest boomerang tournament after professor Ed Love introduced the sport on campus. Love is one of six individuals who qualified for the U.S. second team.

Interested in learning more about the sport of boomerang? Go to www.usba.org and read about the different throwing events, such as relay, accuracy and Aussie Round.

Below is the list of participants who earned a spot on one of the two teams representing the U.S. at this year’s world championships:

USA Team 1: Raditude