Flooded farmland supplies ideal place for kiteboarding

Kee Park of Jackson isn't depressed by the rising floodwaters. He took off two hours from work Friday to go kiteboarding in the flooded farmland south of Highway 74.

Park and his wife came up with the idea when they first heard farmland was flooding near Dutchtown.

They drove down Thursday to explore the depth of the water. According to Park's wife, Susan Park, the water does not have to be deep. When they went kiteboarding in Texas, the water was only waist-deep.

But the wind was not strong enough Thursday to kiteboard. According to Kee Park, the wind has to be strong, but it cannot gust and cannot be obstructed by elements on land, such as trees or rocks. Near the Dutchtown exit off Interstate 55 was good, he said, because there is open farmland and the trees are far from the open water.

Park obtained permission to kiteboard on the farmland from the owner, Bob Adams. However, after the fact, Park was concerned about the chemicals the farmer used on his crops.

"God knows what's in that water," Park said, "because I think I drank a little. But I'll eat the plants."

Kiteboarding involves standing on a board while holding on to a parachute-like sail for power. Park, a neurosurgeon, said he learned how to kiteboard while on vacation two years ago. He has kiteboarded in Texas, Florida and the Dominican Republic.

Dr. Kee Park of Jackson took to the air with his kiteboard Friday near Interstate 55 and Highway 74. FRED LYNCH flynch@semissourian.com

"I was, like, mesmerized," said Park about the first time he saw kiteboarding.

He said the sport used to be dangerous when it first came out because the kite was attached directly to his body. If the wind were to gust, he could be pulled away. Now, Park said, even though the kite is still attached to his body, letting go of a handlebar attached to the kite will protect him.

Park's wife, Susan Park, accompanied her husband Friday but chose not to participate.

"I'm a novice," she said.

After two hours of fun, Park received a call from the office; the fun was over.

"I got to go," he said, "I got to go do brain surgery."

tthomas@semissourian.com 335-6611, extension 197

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