June 9 – 11, 2026
The North Fork Championship is the crown jewel of whitewater races, staged on the legendary North Fork of the Payette River in Idaho. The worlds best whitewater kayakers gather to compete on kayakings most challenging slalom course.
The NFC celebrates athleticism, camaraderie, and the cutting edge of whitewater sport. This is where limits are tested, legends are made, and the next generation of champions is born.
Throughout race week, paddlers, industry pros, and local supporters come together for a full-on celebration of whitewater. The festival buzzes with vendor booths featuring cutting-edge paddling gear, local artists, and everything that fuels river life—on and off the water.
The festival is shifting to Smiths Ferry, Idaho. This new venue offers improved accessibility, with the campground situated directly across from the river—providing a convenient alternative put-in for the North Fork (Class V) and a take-out for the Cabarton section (Class III).
Wild Rivers Night is an evening dedicated to protecting free-flowing rivers. Advocates and conservation leaders protecting the waterways we love educate our community in the best ways to protect our resources.
This evening we will feature our inaugural ’Legend Series’ where we will hear inspiring stories from past paddling legends in kayaking. This year will feature the Yarlung Tsango Po expedition and its’ imminent damming.
The North Fork of the Payette River is steeped in legend—a proving ground for the world’s best extreme whitewater kayakers and a springboard for river advocacy. Since the first modern descent in 1977, it’s powerful rapids have shaped world-class athletes, demanding precision, courage, and endurance.
In 1990, a proposed dam united paddlers and advocacy groups—Idaho Rivers United, Idaho Whitewater Association, and Friends of the Payette—in defending the river’s free-flowing character. Over the past three decades, the North Fork has continued to forge legends and inspire countless stories along its hallowed banks.
Driven to give the highest level of kayaking the platform it deserves, James was inspired by Jacob’s Ladder. Jake’s rowdiness and proximity to the general public was the perfect stadium to showcase the skill in kayaking. Through hard work and an infectious enthusiasm, James and Regan built one of the sport’s most prestigious competitions.
To carry this legacy forward and promote stewardship of the river, a nonprofit was formed for NFC 2026 and beyond. Paddle sports veterans Aaron Pruzan, Cheyenne Rogers, Stan Prichard, Preston Woods and Carli Beisel have joined the Byrds to form a cohesive team dedicated to both the event and the river that makes it possible.
Our mission is to protect the race’s legacy, support the paddling community, and safeguard the free-flowing nature of the North Fork of the Payette. This event exists thanks to the generosity of sponsors, donors, and fellow paddlers. Contributions directly fund the infrastructure and logistics that keep the NFC alive—from safety crews to permits—and inspire the next generation of athletes.
Your support ensures future paddlers will launch off the legendary ramp into Jacob’s Ladder and take on one of the greatest challenges in the sport.
We are an Idaho based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN: 39-3287886
Our Mission – North Fork Championship, Inc. is an Idaho non-profit corporation that exists to promote competition, education and stewardship on the Payette Rivers.
