Board Members
James Byrd
Board President & Co-Founder
James grew up kayaking in Montana before kayaks were plastic! He moved to Boise for his first job in nursing and to push his kayaking on the legendary North Fork Payette. After shredding Idaho for a couple years and was fortunate enough to be there during a 150 year flood in 2010, he wanted to create a competition that gave kayaking the platform it deserved. Inspired by the Bigfork Whitewater Festival in its peak hay day, he felt Jacobs Ladder would be the next level and the perfect venue to give kayaking a stadium like experience that traditional sports have enjoyed and kayaking deserved.
Through the help of many friends, James and his awesome wife Regan made the NFC a reality. They are hyped to bring it back with the badass team assembled for NFC 2.0. He’s stoked to celebrate the pinnacle of kayaking and rally together some amazing people!
LFG !!
Carli Beisel
Executive Director | carli.d.beisel@gmail.com
Carli’s paddling journey began at age five, perched in the bow of her dad’s canoe before graduating to a kayak of her own. That early connection to rivers sparked a lifelong passion, carrying her to whitewater destinations around the world. Over the past fifteen years, she has held just about every role in the kayaking industry, from guiding to instruction to T-shirt sales at kayak races. After many years living out of her car down by the river, she now resides in White Salmon, WA.
Today, Carli focuses on giving back to the paddling community—working to protect river ecosystems, expand access to the outdoors, and inspire the next generation of river stewards. She holds a Master’s degree in Hydrologic Sciences from Boise State University, focusing on the impact of urbanization and climate change on surface water supply in the Lower Boise River Basin.
Aaron Pruzan
Board Member, Treasurer | aaron@jacksonholekayak.com
Aaron Pruzan (also known as “AP”) is the owner & founder of Rendezvous River Sports in Jackson, WY and has introduced thousands of people of all ages to the sport of kayaking during the past 32 years. He has been involved with numerous whitewater expeditions, exploratory descents and competition in a variety of whitewater disciplines. Including being a regular at the North Fork Payette since 1992.
In addition to river running, Aaron is at the forefront of river conservation and ecosystem stewardship. He helped lead the successful Snake River Headwaters Wild & Scenic Campaign, was a founding board member of the Snake River Fund, founder of the Jackson Hole Kayak Club, former board member of American Whitewater and is currently board chair of Protect Our Waters Jackson Hole. Aaron and his family live in Wilson, WY – a mile from the Snake River and 13 miles from the Idaho State Line.
Cheyenne Rogers
Board Members
Since she skipped her high school prom in favor of Bigfork Whitewater Festival, Cheyenne has centered herself in the river community of the Northwest. From the historic dance parties on the Lochsa River to the recent discos of the Little White Salmon Race, Cheyenne (aka “DJ Bella Flow”) plays the parties and paddles the rivers. The North Fork of the Payette, South Fork of the Salmon River, and the Green Truss are a few of her all time favorites. Contributing to the next chapter of this most legendary event in whitewater kayaking is her dream come true.
Stan Prichard
Board Member
Rob Lesser
Honorary Board Chair
Rob is the living legend within the kayaking community, with stories retold and rivers rerun all around the world. Rob was a pioneer of expedition paddling, getting the first descent on infamous rivers like the Stikine, Devil’s Canyon of the Susitna, the Braldu River in Pakistan, and many more. He was not only an avid paddler, but worked to protect free flowing rivers across the US. He founded the Idaho Whitewater Association which protects Idaho rivers from dam development.
The organizers of the NFC work to make this event something that Rob is proud to support, celebrating the skill, grit, and the vibrant community that thrives on the North Fork.
Regan Byrd
Board Member & Co-Founder
Regan, an Idaho native, grew up competing in the rodeo world before being roped into helping put on the North Fork. While having spent her time competing at the collegiate level rodeoing, she was drawn to the idea of bringing the best athletes in the world to compete on Idaho’s whitewater. Now a passionate kayaker and co-founder of the North Fork Championship, one of Regan’s most powerful takeaways has been the clarity around what it truly means to pursue and achieve a shared goal. What began with her love for James quickly grew into something much bigger, forging some of the deepest and most meaningful friendships of her life.
Regan is proud to see the NFC revived in its new form as a non-profit with a strong emphasis on river conservation, and stoked to gather for the family reunion every June.