The North Fork Championship is a whitewater kayaking extreme race located on the North Fork of the Payette River, just north of Banks, Idaho. [1] [2] The North Fork of the Payette River is one of the most well known class V rivers in the world, most notably for the extremely continuous big water. The first race was held in 2012 and has become an annual race. The North Fork Championship, or NFC, on or around the second weekend in June and brings the best whitewater kayakers from around the world to race down the infamous rapid called “Jacob's Ladder”. The NFC is unique in the sense that it takes an extremely dangerous and difficult rapid, and forces the racers to make different maneuvers in the rapid that are very challenging and that they wouldn't normally choose to run. [3] After just one year, American Canoe and Kayak named the North Fork Championship as the 2013 Sanctioned Event of the Year, since then it has attracted even more top level kayakers from around the globe. [4]
The main event of the weekend on Saturday is the Elite Race on Jacobs Ladder. To race down Jacob's Ladder, one must be invited in one of three different ways: take top 5 in the Expert Race (the qualifier), be previously voted in as one of 15 racers by The Trick Force, or be part of The Trick Force (the top 10 finishers in the previous years race). To be voted in, paddlers must submit an application, stating why they believe they are capable of racing, as well as why they should be invited. [5]
The Elite Race is an extreme slalom time trial. Each racer goes down the course one at a time to have the fastest time, while also navigating around “gates” that are determined by the organizers to make the racers do challenging and difficult maneuvers. Failure to go on the correct side of the gate results in a 50-second penalty, and touching the gate results in a 5-second penalty. Each racer gets 2 runs down the course, and the fastest time is recorded for the results. [6]
The Expert Race serves as the race that allows anyone that is capable of paddling the whitewater. It is held down on the S-Turn Rapid, located on the "Upper 5" section on the North Fork. This race was previously held on the "Lower 5" section of the river during the first few years. S-Turn is a class V rapid, but more manageable for a wider variety of people compared to Jacob's Ladder. Over 150 racers go one at a time to have the fastest raw time. Motivation can be to just get out and race, beat their friends, or try and qualify for the Elite Race.
The Boater X is a head to head race locate on a rapid called S-turn. The top 35 racers from the Expert Race, along with the invited Elite division are allowed to compete in this race. The Boater X is not timed, it is just simply a tournament style head to head, with the top half of the racers in each heat moving on to the next round.
Elite Division
Place | Rider | Bib | Time |
1 | Dane Jackson | 2 | 1:57.60 |
2 | Tad Dennis | 16 | 1:58.28 |
3 | Kyle Hull | 9 | 1:59.00 |
4 | Alec Voorhees | 5 | 2:00.31 |
5 | Aniol Serrasolses | 4 | 2:00.53 |
6 | Joe Morley | 11 | 2:01.67 |
7 | Nick Troutman | 12 | 2:08.90 |
8 | William Griffith | 18 | 2:10.35 |
9 | Rush Sturges | 17 | 2:10.71 |
10 | Evan Moore | 03 | 2:11.82 |
11 | Isaac Levinson | 3 | 2:11.93 |
12 | Kalob Grady | 10 | 2:14.35 |
13 | Tren Long | 6 | 2:16.61 |
14 | Sam Ellis | 05 | 2:17.10 |
15 | Dave Fusilli | 21 | 2:18.01 |
16 | Brendan Wells | 15 | 2:18.09 |
17 | Nouria Newman | 8 | 2:27.66 |
18 | Will Pruett | 19 | 2:49.08 |
19 | Todd Wells | 7 | 2:50.72 |
20 | Galen Volckhausen | 20 | 2:54.52 |
21 | Matias Lopez | 02 | 2:54.09 |
22 | Louis Geltman | 13 | 2:56.18 |
23 | Ben Kinsella | 26 | 2:57.71 |
24 | Phil Mitchell | 04 | 3:03.60 |
25 | Pat Keller | 14 | 3:06.40 |
26 | Aaron Mann | 24 | 3:06.78 |
27 | Pedro Andrade Astorga | 01 | 3:15.73 |
28 | Ben Marr | 25 | 3:29.01 |
29 | Sam Grafton | 23 | 4:09.55 |
Elite Division
Place | Rider | Bib | Time |
1 | Gerd Serrasolses | 4 | 2:05.50 |
2 | Dane Jackson | 9 | 2:06.29 |
3 | Isaac Levinson | 12 | 2:07.42 |
4 | Aniol Serrasolses | 15 | 2:08.94 |
5 | Alec Voorhees | 13 | 2:11.19 |
6 | Tren Long | 03 | 2:14.13 |
7 | Todd Wells | 5 | 2:15.89 |
8 | Nouria Newman | 23 | 2:16.02 |
9 | Kyle Hull | 14 | 2:16.30 |
10 | Kalob Grady | 16 | 2:16.67 |
11 | Andrew Holcombe | 7 | 2:17.93 |
12 | Louis Geltman | 18 | 2:17.98 |
13 | Nick Troutman | 10 | 2:18.39 |
14 | Brendan Wells | 05 | 2:19.63 |
15 | Erik Johnson | 24 | 2:19.66 |
16 | Galen Volckhausen | 22 | 2:20.28 |
17 | Eric Deguil | 11 | 2:21.31 |
18 | Rush Sturges | 6 | 2:25.53 |
19 | Tyler Bradt | 17 | 2:28.43 |
20 | Liam Fournier | 25 | 2:29.23 |
21 | Nathan Garcia | 19 | 2:32.43 |
22 | Seth Stoenner | 20 | 2:32.49 |
23 | Joey Simmons | 01 | 2:33.16 |
24 | Jules Domine | 1 | 3:08.49 |
25 | Brad McMillan | 02 | 3:13.07 |
26 | Eric Parker | 21 | 3:13.22 |
Ryan Mooney | 04 | ||
Egor Voskoboynikov | 2 | ||
Evan Garcia | 3 | ||
Joe Morley | 8 |
Elite Division
Place | Rider | Bib | Time |
1 | Jules Domine | 9 | 01:59.18 |
2 | Egor Voskoboynikov | 21 | 02:02.52 |
3 | Evan Garcia | 4 | 02:03.20 |
4 | Gerd Serrasolses | 2 | 02:04.63 |
5 | Todd Wells | 6 | 02:05.34 |
6 | Rush Sturges | 3 | 02:05.79 |
7 | Andrew Holcombe | 5 | 02:05.98 |
8 | Joe Morley | 14 | 02:06.27 |
9 | Dane Jackson | 13 | 02:09.49 |
10 | Nick Troutman | 25 | 02:10.12 |
11 | Aniol Serrasolses | 19 | 02:10.20 |
12 | Ryan Casey | 7 | 02:11.85 |
13 | Bryan Kirk | 12 | 02:12.36 |
14 | Eric Deguil | 17 | 02:13.75 |
15 | Seth Stoenner | 22 | 02:13.79 |
16 | Galen Volckhausen | 15 | 02:19.78 |
17 | Erik Johnson | 16 | 02:23.77 |
18 | Momo Castillo | 03 | 02:37.86 |
19 | Louis Geltman | 1 | 02:51.14 |
20 | Alec Voorhees | 04 | 02:55.79 |
21 | Pangal Andrade Astorga | 01 | 03:01.53 |
22 | James Byrd | 8 | 03:03.45 |
23 | Geoff Calhoun | 05 | 03:06.60 |
24 | Isaac Levinson | 24 | 03:09.07 |
25 | Ben Marr | 18 | 03:10.13 |
26 | Brendan Wells | 20 | 03:18.64 |
27 | Brian Ward | 23 | 03:22.02 |
28 | Katrina Van Wijk | 11 | 03:24.89 |
Kyle Hull | 10 | DNS | |
Tren Long | 02 | DNS |
Elite Division
Place | Rider | Bib | Time |
1 | Louis Geltman | 16 | 01:57.20 |
2 | Gerd Serrasolses | 11 | 01:59.81 |
3 | Rush Sturges | 12 | 01:59.84 |
4 | Evan Garcia | 8 | 02:00.88 |
5 | Andrew Holcombe | 14 | 02:01.16 |
6 | Todd Wells | 13 | 02:02.78 |
7 | Ryan Casey | 1 | 02:10.28 |
8 | James Byrd | 20 | 02:10.31 |
9 | Jules Domine | 17 | 02:13.38 |
10 | Kyle Hull | 19 | 02:14.36 |
11 | Lane Jacobs | 03 | 02:16.79 |
12 | Chris Gragtmans | 15 | 02:17.48 |
13 | Ben Marr | 7 | 02:25.38 |
14 | Brian Ward | 21 | 02:25.42 |
15 | Ian McClaran | 24 | 02:37.46 |
16 | Geoff Calhoun | 5 | 02:39.41 |
17 | Eric Deguil | 01 | 02:51.67 |
18 | Dylan Thomson | 18 | 02:57.12 |
19 | Mikkel St. Jean Duncan | 3 | 02:59.10 |
20 | Ben Luck | 22 | 03:01.20 |
21 | Jakub Nemec | 9 | 03:01.50 |
22 | Tristan McClaran | 25 | 03:04.45 |
23 | Erik Johnson | 23 | 03:37.99 |
24 | Darren Albright | 02 | 03:55.20 |
25 | Marcos Gallegos | 05 | 04:42.40 |
Elite Division
Place | Rider | Bib | Time |
1 | Ryan Casey | 8 | 02:17.410 |
2 | Tyler Bradt | 12 | 02:18.530 |
3 | Mikkel St. Jean Duncan | 9 | 02:18.790 |
4 | Wilz Martin | 05 | 02:18.910 |
5 | Geoff Calhoun | 2 | 02:19.250 |
6 | Pat Keller | 30 | 02:19.540 |
7 | Ben Marr | 14 | 02:20.970 |
8 | Evan Garcia | 5 | 02:22.750 |
9 | Jakub Nemec | 7 | 02:25.900 |
10 | Fred Coriell | 18 | 02:34.310 |
11 | Kyle Hull | 4 | 02:35.06 |
12 | Rush Sturges | 13 | 02:36.84 |
13 | Jonny Meyers | 17 | 02:51.65 |
14 | Tristan McClaran | 22 | 02:54.35 |
15 | Lane Jacobs | 21 | 03:02.75 |
16 | Andrew Holcombe | 3 | 03:12.69 |
17 | Chris Gragtmans | 16 | 03:16.12 |
18 | Darren Albright | 02 | 03:17.50 |
19 | Jesse Murphy | 20 | 03:19.16 |
20 | Dan Menten | 11 | 03:22.56 |
21 | Chris Mctaggert | 06 | 03:32.78 |
22 | Dan Simenc | 19 | 03:39.84 |
23 | Ryan Lucas | 15 | 03:48.44 |
24 | Ben Luck | 01 | 04:08.53 |
25 | Mira Kodada | 10 | 05:56.00 |
Zach Fraysier | 03 | DNF |
A kayak is a small, narrow human-powered watercraft typically propelled by means of a long, double-bladed paddle. The word kayak originates from the Greenlandic word qajaq.
Whitewater forms in the context of rapids, in particular, when a river's gradient changes enough to generate so much turbulence that air is trapped within the water. This forms an unstable current that froths, making the water appear opaque and white.
Whitewater kayaking is an adventure sport where a river is navigated in a decked kayak. Whitewater kayaking includes several styles. River running; where the paddler follows a river and paddles rapids as they travel. Creeking usually involving smaller, steeper, and more technical waterways. Creek boats tend to be short but high volume to allow for manoeuvrability while maintaining buoyancy. Slalom requires paddlers to navigate through "gates". Slalom is the only whitewater event to be in the Olympics. Play boating involves staying on one feature of the river and is more artistic than the others. Squirt boating uses low-volume boats to perform special moves in whitewater features.
Wildwater canoeing is a competitive discipline of canoeing in which kayaks or canoes are used to negotiate a stretch of river speedily. It is also called "Whitewater racing" or "Downriver racing" to distinguish it from whitewater slalom racing and whitewater rodeo or Freestyle competition.
Canoe slalom is a competitive sport with the aim to navigate a decked canoe or kayak through a course of hanging downstream or upstream gates on river rapids in the fastest time possible. It is one of the two kayak and canoeing disciplines at the Summer Olympics, and is referred to by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as Canoe/Kayak Slalom. The other Olympic canoeing discipline is canoe sprint. Wildwater canoeing is a non-Olympic paddlesport.
Canoe freestyle is a discipline of whitewater kayaking or canoeing where people perform various technical moves in one place, as opposed to downriver whitewater canoeing or kayaking where the objective is to travel the length of a section of river. Specialised canoes or kayaks (boats) known as playboats are often used, but any boat can be used for playing. The moves and tricks are often similar to those performed by snowboarders, surfers or skaters, where the athlete completes spins, flips, turns, etc. With modern playboats it is possible to get the kayak and the paddler completely airborne while performing tricks. The competitive side of playboating is known as freestyle kayaking.
The Augsburg Eiskanal is an artificial whitewater river in Augsburg, Germany, constructed as the canoe slalom venue for the 1972 Summer Olympics in nearby Munich.
The Payette River is an 82.7-mile-long (133.1 km) river in southwestern Idaho and is a major tributary of the Snake River.
FIBArk stands for "First in Boating the Arkansas"—it's a three-day festival held in Salida, Colorado that started in the 1950s. The history actually began in 1949 when two friends bet each other who'd win a race from Salida to Cañon City on the Arkansas River. Since that race almost killed both contestants, the race was shortened in subsequent years to about 26 miles of whitewater from Salida to Cotopaxi. It became a community-wide festival. Today, the festival draws over 10,000 people yearly, around the 3rd week of June, and includes a variety of events on the river and in town. The event has grown from a single boating race to now include biking, running, and other races. The portion of the river where the majority of the races are held runs through downtown Salida, keeping the event close to all of the other activities and festivities offered downtown during the festival.
Squirt boating is a form of whitewater kayaking where the boat is designed to be as low in volume as possible while still allowing the paddler to float. Squirt boats are designed to use both surface and underwater currents to maneuver within the water. These maneuvers can be used to effect navigational control or to perform tricks.
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The Green River is a dam-release river that flows through the mountains of North Carolina, south of Asheville. The Green has numerous tributaries, but much of its water flows from a confluence with Big Hungry Creek. The Green River is itself a tributary of the Broad River. The river is dammed to form Lake Summit, in Tuxedo, North Carolina, and Lake Adger near Mill Spring, NC. The Green River is named for its deep green color but runs brown after heavy rains.
Creeking is a branch of canoeing and kayaking that involves descending very steep low-volume whitewater. It is usually performed in specialized canoes and kayaks specifically designed to withstand the extreme whitewater environment in which the activity occurs. In addition, the canoes and kayaks give the paddler improved performance and maneuverability needed to avoid river obstacles.
Whitewater canoeing is the sport of paddling a canoe on a moving body of water, typically a whitewater river. Whitewater canoeing can range from simple, carefree gently moving water, to demanding, dangerous whitewater. River rapids are graded like ski runs according to the difficulty, danger or severity of the rapid. Whitewater grades range from I or 1 to VI or 6. Grade/Class I can be described as slightly moving water with ripples. Grade/Class VI can be described as severe or almost unrunnable whitewater, such as Niagara Falls.
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