Every contestant must be an expert paddler that feels comfortable competing on the North Fork Payette. Before each race, prior to loading the bus, athletes will need to be present at the safety meeting. If they are not in attendance, they will not race. These safety meetings will be about thirty minutes long, and will go over all safety aspects of the race for that day. Safety will be stressed and be of utmost importance. It is paramount to the success of the NFC. Swiftwater Rescue Certified Safety Personnel will line the river of each race course. Each paddler must also wait in the eddy at the bottom of the course until two other paddlers are there to replace them. Each paddler must have a helmet, throwbag, and sufficient coldwater gear, this will be evaluated prior to participation.

BIG THANKS to our head of safety and North Fork OG Brian Ward for all the efforts to keep our paddlers safe on the water.