It’s here…the highlight reel for this year’s 2026 North Fork Champs June 9-11 is live, and it’s some of the best whitewater event action you’ll find. Prep your adrenaline glands.
After a three-year hiatus, the world’s top whitewater kayakers gathered in a new base location in Smiths Ferry, Idaho, to tackle the same rip-roaring Class V whitewater on the Jacob’s Ladder section of Idaho’s notorious North Fork of the Payette River. The gauntlet of some of the country’s most continuous, hard-charging Class V whitewater promises to test the mettle of everyone as they careen through such marquee rapids as Jacob’s Ladder, Golf Course, Screaming Left Turn, Jaws, Crunch, and Juicer.
Throughout race week, paddlers, industry pros, and local supporters came together for a full-on celebration of whitewater, with the festival buzzing with vendor booths featuring cutting-edge paddling gear, local artists, and everything that fuels river life—on and off the water. This new base venue offered 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).
“We’re super hyped about the event and the new layout for it,” said executive director Carli Beisel. “We loved our 10 years in Crouch and want to thank the incredible Garden Valley community for a decade of support and treating us like family. To be closer to the river, we moved the NFC Whitewater Festival up to Wellington Snow Park in Smiths Ferry, right on the North Fork Payette.”
Watch video here:
Founded in 2012 by James Byrd and his wife Regan, the popular extreme kayaking race folded in 2023 after a decade-long run due to increasing insurance costs and other issues. To carry its legacy forward and promote stewardship of the river, the Byrds have since formed a nonprofit to continue running and hosting the event for NFC 2026 and beyond, bringing to the board and team such paddlesports veterans as Aaron Pruzan, Cheyenne Rogers, Stan Prichard, Preston Woods and Carli Beisel to form a cohesive team dedicated to the event and the river that makes it possible.
As far as helping protect the river, the event featured a new Wild Rivers Night with an evening dedicated to protecting free-flowing rivers. As well as advocates and conservation leaders educating attendees on the best ways to protect rivers, the evening also featured an inaugural ’Legend Series’ highlighting inspiring stories from past paddling legends in kayaking.
“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,” said Beisel. “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.”
As for the race itself, it featured a new format as well. “We are stoked to announce the new race format featuring another race on Jacob’s Ladder,” said Beisel, adding each race was a progressive qualifier with winners advancing each day.
2026 North Fork Championships Race Schedule
🏁 Tuesday – Kokatat Qualifier on S – Turn. Open to everyone. Fastest 100 get a second lap.
🏁 Wednesday – Semi’s Sprint – 20 Men + 5 Women advance from Qualifier for a Sprint down Jake’s. Ramp to finish line. No gates. Best of 2 runs.
**Trick Force (NFC X’s – Top 10 Men + Top 3 Women) + Voted in Athletes (10 Men + 2 Women) auto advance to Sprint. Totaling 40 Men + 10 Women racing.
🏁 Thursday – Finals Slalom – 30 Men + 6 Women advance from Sprint to Main Event Slalom down Jake’s. Best of 2 runs.
NFC athletes will be prioritized into the NFC Whitewater Festival area with shuttles, access to early camping, yoga classes, and a sauna + cold plunge to use during the event starting Monday evening.
“We have worked hard this year to prioritize our athletes and add perks to their experience throughout the whole week. We need all the support we can to keep this beast going, so we appreciate athletes paying more for registration. Think of it as a personal investment into the future of the NFC.”
Info: www.northforkchampionship.com
Competitor to Watch: Aniol Serrasolses
@aniolserrasolses, one of probably two kayakers in the game to be in the talk for G.O.A.T. status. But the only thing as sick as the 🐐 is the COBRA 🐍 !! This kid has made the impossible possible several times in his kayaking career.
Cobra is responsible for CREATING tricks that only the best in the sport will try to mimic for generations. Cobra flip. Orbit flip. Double kick flip. As unreal as his downriver freestyle is his ability in flooded rivers. He has the solo highest no portage descent of the notorious Grand Canyon of the Stikine 🇨🇦 (~50 mile committed canyon of gnarly Class V+ whitewater – usually done in 3 days) at a mind boggling 600 cumecs. This feat is every bit as gnarly as @alexhonnold free solo ascent of El Capitan. He also holds the record speed descent of the Stikine with fellow beasts, brother @gerdserrasolses and @bennymrr at a blistering 4 hours 56 minutes.
Aniol is also atop the waterfall game with first descents of two ROWDY 100+ footers, Keyhole Falls 🇨🇦 – 115’, and Puma Falls – 115’ 🇨🇱, and has also ran Big Banana – 138’ 🇲🇽, Alexandra – 105’ 🇨🇦, Ram Falls 🇨🇦 – 100’. Amongst many other first descents and drops under the 100 foot club.
He also has an incredible racing resume, having won about every competition at some point. Most notably 2018 NFC 👑 CHAMP , 2016 World Champion at Adidas Sickline. Aniol was also voted by his peers 3X @whitewaterawards Rider of the Year and @kayaksessionmag ROTY in 2018.
A once in a lifetime talent we are incredibly excited to have Aniol back at NFC to continue pushing the sport with his style and prowess!!
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