Paddling Resume: Rod Feldtmann

Date Updated: 17 May 2011. 

Summary

Rod Feldtmann is the founder, owner, operator and guide of Sea Kayak Milos , a sea kayaking centre on the Greek island of Milos, offering Guided day trips and multi-day expeditions.  He is a level 4 sea kayak coach with the British Canoe Union (BCU).  Rod is married to Petrinela, they have 3 children and live on Milos Island, Greece.

Personal Details

• Date of Birth: August 9, 1966

• Place of Birth: Benalla, Victoria, Australia.

• Residence status: Australian citizen; Greek resident.

• Languages: English, Greek

• Interests: Sea Kayaking, photography, geology and geography, wind surfing, mountain biking.

Academic Qualification: Bachelor of Science in Geology (Hons 1), University of Wollongong, Australia, 1988-1991.

Kayaking Qualifications: BCU Level 4 sea kayaking coach

Background

Born and raised on a farm in Victoria, Australia.  Graduated with a degree in Geology and worked for 10 years as an Exploration Geologist in Australia, South America and, finally, in Greece.  He began sea kayaking in Milos in 1999.  In 2000 he left his geological career to develop the sea kayaking guiding business.  The idea was, and still is, to provide affordable, sea kayaking holidays in a fantastic location, for people of all paddling abilities.

Personal objectives

• To provide an income for my family while remaining in Milos
• To work an intensive season (8 months?) with a long winter break (December to March)
• To get out on the water as much as possible
• To develop as a paddler, a guide and a sea kayaking instructor.
• To make Milos the number one kayaking holiday destination in Greece.

Guiding experience- all based on Milos and the Greek islands.

• 2000 - Guided 35 full day (7 hrs) or half day (4 hrs) sea kayak day trips
• 2001 - Guided 58 day-trips
• 2002 - Guided 97 day-trips
• 2003 - Guided 132 day-trips
• 2004 - Guided a total of 143 days - (115 day-trips, 4 x 7-day expeditions)
• 2005 - Guided a total of 182 days - (133 day-trips, 5 x 7-day expeditions, one 14-day expedition)
• 2006 - Guided a total of 173 days - (144 day-trips, 3 x 7-day expeditions, one 8-day expedition)
• 2007 - Guided a total of 199 days - (146 day-trips, 2 x 7-day expeditions, 3 x 8-day expeditions, 3 x-5 day courses)
• 2008 - Guided a total of 198 days - (143 day-trips, 4 x 7-day expeditions, 1 x 12-day expedition, 3 x 5-day courses)
• 2009 - Guided a total of 205 days - (150 day trips, 2 x 8-day expeditions, 2 x 7-day expeditions, 3 x 5-day courses)
• 2010 - Guided a total of 165 days - (155 day trips, 2 x 5 day expedition)

Milos Expeditions

• 2003 - 2010 - Guided 18 "Around Milos and Kimolos expeditions - duration 5-7 days, 6-8 persons - Jul '04, Aug '04, Oct'04, Apr '05, Aug '05, Oct '05 (2), May '06, Sep '06, Oct '06, Jun '07, Oct '07, Jun '08, Oct '08 (2), Jun '09 | Oct '09 | Oct '10
• 2005, June - Circumnavigated Milos island in a day; 66.5km in 12.5hrs, with Paul Pringle.

Beyond Milos Expeditions

• 2002, September - Participated on a 6-day expedition on the coast of Skye, Scotland
• 2003, October - Lead a group of 4 on a 6-day island hopping expedition from Milos to Santorini, a distance of 150km with two open crossings of 20km (review)
• 2004, November - Lead a group of 6 on a 7-day island hopping expedition from Milos to Serifos (review)
• 2005, April - Lead a group of 2 on a 6-day expedition from Milos to Santorini  (review)
• 2005, November - Lead a group of 6 on a 14 day expedition, Island hopping across the Aegean sea from Athens to near Bodrum, Turkey, a distance of 490km (review)
• 2006, May - Lead a group of 4 on a six-day expedition from Santorini to Milos (map and photos)
• 2007, March - Lead a group of 4 on a 8-day expedition from Hania to Sfakia, Western Crete. (map and photos)
• 2007, April - Lead a group of 5 on a 7-day expedition from Milos to Santorini (video log)
• 2007, October - Lead a group of 5 on an 8 day, Island hopping expedition from Kos to Rhodes, a distance of 168km (review)
• 2008, April - Lead a group of 6 on a 8-day expedition from Milos to Santorini (photos)
• 2008, November - Lead a group of 7 on a 12-day expedition from Kissamos to Tsoutsouros, Crete. (review)
• 2009, April - Lead a group of 6 on an 7-day expedition from Milos to Santorini (photos)
• 2009, May - Lead a group of 7 on an 8-day expedition in the Saronic gulf islands, Greece (map and photos)
• 2010, March - A 12-day expedition, with 3 others, crossing the Aegean sea from Athens to Samos, a distance of 420km (map and photos)
• 2011, March - with Shaun Rodgers, paddled from Piraeus to Milos in 4 days, a distance of 221km (map and photos)

Sea Kayaking Courses completed and BCU qualifications

• 2001 - Canoe safety test, passed BCU 2 star, Anglesey sea and surf centre, North Wales.
• 2002 - Passed BCU 3 star and 4 star sea tests, Plas y Brenin, North Wales.
• 2003 - Level 2 sea kayak coach training, Plas Menai, North Wales.
• 2003 - Intermediate white water; passed 4 star inland test - Plas y Brenin, North Wales.
• 2004 - Level 2 sea kayak coach assessment (passed), Woodmill outdoor centre, Southampton, England.
• 2004 - 5 star sea kayak training, Surflines, Llanberis, North Wales.
• 2005 - Level 3 sea kayak coach training, Surflines, Llanberis, North Wales.
• 2005 - Level 3 sea kayak coach assessment (passed), Anglesey sea and surf centre, North Wales.
• 2005 - 5 star sea kayak test (passed), Anglesey sea and surf centre, North Wales.
• 2006 - Coaching processes course Plas y Brenin, North Wales (final requirement for Level 4 sea kayak coach).
• 2007 - Intermediate white water - Plas y Brenin, North Wales.
• 2008 - Advanced Sea kayaking (5 days) - Sea kayaking Cornwall, England.
• 2009 - Advanced sea kayaking (2 days) - Sea kayaking UK, North Wales

First aid courses

• 01/03 - St John Senior first aid 8 hr - Canberra Australia
• 01.06 - St John Senior first aid 8 hr - Canberra Australia
• 11/09 - REC emergency - 2 days - Plas y Brenin, North Wales.