Nantahala Racing Club
Nantahala Racing Club
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Events
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • Programs
  • More
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Events
    • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Programs
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Events
  • Get Involved
  • Donate
  • Programs

About Us

Nantahala racing club — what we do (and fun facts)

nantAHALA RACING CLUB — Board of directors

Lee Leibfarth, President

Graham Sharp, Vice President

Graham Sharp, Vice President

Lee has been actively involved in paddling for 40+ years. He is an Olympic  coach, long-time NRC volunteer, and chairman of the American Canoe Association’s Competition Committee. Lee coaches the NRC youth slalom team locally and works with elite athletes on the World Cup and World Championships circuits. He lives in Bryson City, NC with his wife, Jean, and their daughter, Evy, who represented Team USA at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. 

Graham Sharp, Vice President

Graham Sharp, Vice President

Graham Sharp, Vice President

Graham's son, Sam, is an avid kayaker who competes in slalom, kayak cross, and creek boating. 

Brian Reeder, Treasurer

Graham Sharp, Vice President

Jennifer Oetting, Secretary

Brian started whitewater kayaking  when boats were pointed on both ends, and few were made of plastic.  He was asked to judge at Age Group Nationals years ago when he came down to paddle and watch a friend’s son race and has   enjoyed volunteering at NRC events ever since.  Dr. Reeder is a Professor of  Biology at Morehead State University and lives with his partner, Dr. Lynn Haller (Psychology), in Morehead, KY.

Jennifer Oetting, Secretary

Jennifer Oetting, Secretary

Jennifer Oetting, Secretary

Jen lives in Bryson City, NC, with her husband, Derek, and their daughter, Carden. 

Evy Leibfarth, Athlete Rep

Jennifer Oetting, Secretary

Evy Leibfarth, Athlete Rep

Evy is a member of the U.S. National Canoe Slalom Team and competes in Women's Canoe (WC1), Women's Kayak (WK1), and Kayak Cross.  She is a two-time World Champion, a Pan American Champion, and an Olympian. At age 15, Evy became the youngest canoe slalom athlete ever to medal at a World Cup. 

Rob Kelly, At-Large Member

Jennifer Oetting, Secretary

Evy Leibfarth, Athlete Rep

Rob paddles regularly with the NRC. He started kayaking in 1987 and has been immersed in whitewater ever since for work and play: competing on the U.S. Freestyle Team, guiding rafts, teaching kayaking, and even designing kayaks. Today, Rob applies his raft guiding skills to piloting private jets. 

Leigh Boike, At-Large Member

Steve Zarnowski, At-Large Member

Leigh Boike, At-Large Member

Leigh grew up vacationing on the Nantahala River with her family. Today, she is VP of Nantahala Outdoor Center, and in her 25th year with the company. 

Lisa Monnat, At-Large Member

Steve Zarnowski, At-Large Member

Leigh Boike, At-Large Member

Lisa enjoys hiking, fishing, hiking, and kayaking with her husband, Tony, and their three children. She is an office assistant at Mountain Discovery Charter School. 

Steve Zarnowski, At-Large Member

Steve Zarnowski, At-Large Member

Steve Zarnowski, At-Large Member

Steve has been a driving force of the NRC since the early 1990s. His hands-on involvement with the Club has ranged from organizing pool sessions to soliciting sponsorships, driving policy, and acting as Club historian. Steve is perhaps best known for his role as The Starter at NRC races on the Nantahala. Many notable paddling personalities in the Southeast can brag about starting their paddling careers in the pool or on the river with Steve.

nantahala racing club — history

nantahala racing club — Partners

Copyright © 2023 Nantahala Racing Club - All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept