BOISE, Idaho — The world's top whitewater kayakers will return to the Payette River in June 2026 as organizers announced Thursday the North Fork Championship is making a comeback after a two-year cancellation .

The event, which will host the Extreme Kayak World Championships June 9-11, was canceled in 2023 due to insurance issues and logistical challenges that stemmed from the competition's rapid growth.

"Every year the event's grown larger and larger. Unfortunately, we outgrew our infrastructure," said Ryan Bailey, event organizer and whitewater kayaker.

The NFC started in 2012 and has since grown into one of the largest whitewater kayak events in the country.

"The North Fork of the Payette is the Coliseum of Whitewater," Bailey said. "It's one of the most challenging and difficult

See Full Page