The record book
Accomplishments
In the Mount Washington wave, altitude is the scoreboard. Scroll down and climb — from the grass at Gorham to the thin air past 30,000 feet.
Scroll to climb
Station zero — the field
It starts on the grass at Gorham.
Every flight in this book starts the same way — a tow off the field at Gorham, New Hampshire, roughly 835 feet above sea level, under the ridge line of the Presidential Range. What the record book measures is everything gained above it: gold climbs, diamond climbs, and the Lennie Pins past 25,000 feet.
The wave camps have been filling these lists since 1966. Several hundred diamond climbs were recorded in the original camp years alone — the best single day, in 1969, produced 44 of them.
1938
The first wave flight in the United States — Lewin Barringer, in the lee of the Presidential Range.
1966
The first modern wave camp, flown out of North Conway by Allan MacNicol and a band of New England pilots.
44
Diamond climbs claimed in a single day — 1969, still the best day on record.
30,000+
Feet: the air the Mount Washington wave is famous for, and where this climb is headed.
Station one
Gold Altitude
for flights above 3,000 meters
Gold climbs below 20,000 feet became known around the east as an “Eastern Diamond.”
2025
- Thomas Van de Velde, Brookline, Massachusetts
2024
- Emilie Phillips, Mason, New Hampshire
- David Sherrill, Westford, Massachusetts
- Tyson Sawyer, Mason, New Hampshire
- Nelson Howe, Marlborough, New Hampshire
- David Lysy, Lyme, New Hampshire
2017
- David Joyce, Brookline, New Hampshire
2015
- Robert Janney, Hackettstown, New Jersey, pending
- Robert Dunning, Bangor, Pennsylvania, pending
- Greg Delp, Woodbury, Connecticut
- Dan MacMonagle, Stoneham, Massachusetts
2014
- George Young, Madison, Connecticut
2013
- Chris Giacomo, Huber Heights, Ohio
- Robert Rippstein, Hopewell Junction, New York
- Nikola Gradinski, New York, New York
2012
- Greg Hanlon, Lyme, New Hampshire
2011
- Roy Bourgeois, Worcester, Massachusetts
2010
- Mark Hermann, Glastonbury, Connecticut
- Pete Dodd, Dowley, Maryland
- Sonny Cilley, Royalton, Vermont
2009
- Tim Chow, Norwich, Vermont
2008
- Steve Arndt, Concord, New Hampshire
2007
- Doug Smith, Waltham, Massachusetts
- Steve Voigt, Norwich, Vermont
2004
- Jim David, Westford, Massachusetts
2003
- Steven Waitekaitis, Norwell, Massachusetts
- Peter Kettle, Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Station two
Diamond Altitude
for a climb of 5,000 meters
Diamond climbs are the currency of the Mount Washington wave — several hundred were recorded in the original wave camp years alone.
2024
- David Lysy, Lyme, New Hampshire
2016
- Glen Kelley, Bedford, New Hampshire
2015
- Daniel Sazhin, Brooklyn, New York
- Charles Stover, King George, Virginia
- Dan MacMonagle, Stoneham, Massachusetts
- Greg Hanlon, Lyme, New Hampshire
- Greg Delp, Woodbury, Connecticut
- Bill Hanson, Belle Harbor, New York
- George Young, Madison, Connecticut
2013
- Chuck Waldo, Wolcott, Connecticut
- Pete Dodd, Solomons, Maryland
- Hank Nixon, Wayne, New Jersey
- Chris Giacomo, Huber Heights, Ohio
2011
- Roy Bourgeois, Worcester, Massachusetts
2010
- Bob Morehardt, Longmeadow, Massachusetts
- Evan Ludeman, New Boston, New Hampshire
- Steve Arndt, Concord, New Hampshire
- Tom Hopper, Concord, New Hampshire
- Richard Kaleta, Bronx, New York
- Doug Smith, Waltham, Massachusetts
- Steve Waitekaitis, Norwell, Massachusetts
- Jess Pauley, Campton, New Hampshire
- Tim Chow, Norwich, Vermont
2009
- Lee Blair, West Hartford, Connecticut
2008
- Andrzej Kobus, Lee, New Hampshire
2007
- Todd Smith, Milford, Connecticut
- Steve Voigt, Norwich, Vermont
- Thomas Scheidegger, Lebanon, New Hampshire
2006
- Jim David, Westford, Massachusetts
2003
- Paul Acres, Hubbardston, Massachusetts
- Juan Mandelbaum, Brookline, Massachusetts
2002
- Andrew Lumley, Lyme Center, New Hampshire
- Peter Stauble, Hollis, New Hampshire
2001
- Rick Roelke, Bedford, New Hampshire
- Richard Kellerman, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
2000
- Kevin Brooker, Post Mills, Vermont
- Andy Lawrence, Sanbornton, New Hampshire
- Rick Sheppe, Post Mills, Vermont
Station three
Lennie Pin
for flights above 25,000 feet
The Lennie Pin recognizes pilots who have climbed above 25,000 feet in the Mount Washington wave.
2015
- Charles Stover, King George, Virginia, #1916
- Dan MacMonagle, Stoneham, Massachusetts, #1920
2013
- Chris Giacomo, Huber Heights, Ohio, #1910
2011
- Roy Bourgeois, Worcester, Massachusetts, #1894
- Mark Hermann, Glastonbury, Connecticut, #pending
- Evan Ludeman, New Boston, New Hampshire, #1897
- Steve Waitekaitis, Norwell, Massachusetts, #1893
- Tim Chow, Norwich, Vermont, #1895
2010
- John Good, Mill Creek, Pennsylvania, #1881
- Peter Stauble, Hollis, New Hampshire, #1882
- Todd Smith, Milford, Connecticut, #1883
- Jess Pauley, Campton, New Hampshire, #1884
- Doug Smith, Waltham, Massachusetts, #1887
2007
- Jim David, Westford, Massachusetts, #1855
- Steve Voigt, Norwich, Vermont, #1854
2002
- Andrew Lumley, Lyme Center, New Hampshire, #1782
2001
- Rick Roelke, Bedford, New Hampshire, #1748
2000
- Kevin Brooker, Post Mills, Vermont, #1727
- Andy Lawrence, Sanbornton, New Hampshire, #1728
- Rick Sheppe, Post Mills, Vermont, #1729
The top of the book
The summit is below you
Flights to over 30,000 feet above sea level have been made in the atmospheric waves generated by Mount Washington and the surrounding peaks. At that height the mountain that makes the wave — 6,288 feet of it — is a white island under the wing.
32,513 ft
The New Hampshire altitude record — Timothy Chow, October 9, 2018, flying the Mount Washington wave.
31,900 ft
Bob Neumann's 1969 flight — the state record for the next forty-nine years.
33,600 ft
The unofficial high — Walter Weir, October 25, 1985, on the 47th anniversary of Barringer's first flight.
The record book today
New Hampshire records, General category — as listed by the Soaring Society of America
| Class | Absolute altitude | Altitude gain |
|---|---|---|
| Open Class Singleplace | 32,513 ft Timothy Chow · October 9, 2018 | 29,537 ft Timothy Chow · October 9, 2018 |
| Open Class Multiplace | 26,414 ft Alfred L. Speckman · October 28, 1968 | 20,669 ft Alfred L. Speckman · October 28, 1968 |
| Motorglider Singleplace | 33,733 ft Malcolm Stevenson · October 25, 1985 | 32,595 ft Malcolm Stevenson · October 25, 1985 |
| 15-Meter Class | 31,390 ft Robert Newman · October 22, 1974 | 24,950 ft Todd Pattist · October 14, 1997 |
| Standard Class | 29,000 ft William Nockles · October 18, 1970 | 26,000 ft William Nockles · October 18, 1970 |
No record stands in Motorglider Multiplace, 13.5-Meter, Ultralight Glider or Sports class. The highest flight in the table — 33,733 feet — is Malcolm Stevenson's motorglider flight on October 25, 1985, the 47th anniversary of Barringer's first wave flight.
