Rods paddling CV
Updated 09 March 2021
Summary
Rod Feldtmann is the founder, owner, operator and guide of Sea Kayak Milos, a sea kayaking centre on the Greek island of Milos. The company offers guided day trips and multi-day expeditions. He is a level 2 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
- Sporting interests: Sea Kayaking, kayak surfing, wind surfing, mountain biking, downhill skiing, scuba diving, free diving
- Other interests: Travel, the Sciences, History, photography, woodwork
Academic Qualification: BSc in Geology (Hons 1), University of Wollongong, Australia, 1988-1991
Kayaking Qualifications:
- BCU 5 star sea kayak leader award,
- UKCC Level 2 sea kayaking coach,
- Sea Kayak Award provider
Background
Rod was born in Benalla, Victoria, Australia and grew up on a farm 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 2001 he left his geological career to develop his own sea kayaking guiding business. The idea was to provide affordable, sea kayaking holidays in a fantastic location, for people of all paddling abilities.
Personal Objectives
- To maintain a reputable business by providing genuine hospitality, excellent guidance, quality equipment and access to an incredible coastline.
- To provide an income for my family while remaining in Milos
- To work an intensive season (7-8 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 leader.
Guiding experience
Based mostly on Milos and the Greek islands.
2001-2020 – Guided at total of 3325 days, made up of 2981 day trips and 44 week+ camping trips
- 2001 – Guided 58 trips (7 hrs) or half day (4 hrs) sea kayak 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 – (161 day-trips, 2 x 7-day expeditions, 3 x 8-day expeditions)
- 2008 – Guided a total of 198 days – (158 day-trips, 4 x 7-day expeditions, 1 x 12-day expedition)
- 2009 – Guided a total of 205 days – (165 day trips, 2 x 8-day expeditions, 2 x 7-day expeditions)
- 2010 – Guided a total of 177 days – (155 day trips, 2 x 5 day expedition, one 12 day expedition)
- 2011 – Guided a total of 194 days – (186 day trips, 2 x 4 days expeditions)
- 2012 – Guided a total of 160 day-trips on Milos
- 2013 – Guided a total of 195 days – (179 day trips, 2 x 8 day expeditions)
- 2014 – Guided a total of 188 days – (180 day trips, 1 x 8 day expedition)
- 2015 – Guided a total of 206 days – (190 day trips, 2 x 8 day expeditions)
- 2016 – Guided a total of 188 days – (174 day trips, 2 x 7-day expeditions)
- 2017 – Guided a total of 186 days – (178 day trips, 1 x 8-day expedition)
- 2018 – Guided a total of 186 days – (172 day trips, 2 x 7-day expeditions)
- 2019 – Guided a total of 172 days – (158 day trips, 2 x 8-day expeditions)
2020 – Guided a total of 86 day-trips on Milos
Milos Based Expeditions
- 2003 – 2010 – Guided 18 “Around Milos and Kimolos expeditions – mostly 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 – with Paul Pringle, circumnavigated Milos, 66.5km in 12.5hrs
- 2012, February – with Pat Moore, circumnavigated Milos 65km in 11.5hrs
- 2016, November – Led a group of 6 in a 7-day expedition around Milos, Kimolos and Poliegos (photos)
- 2017, October – Led a group of 6 in a 7-day expedition around Milos, Kimolos and Poliegos (photos)
- 2018, October – Led a group of 9 in a 7-day expedition around Milos, Kimolos and Poliegos (photos)
- 2018, November – Led a group of 8 in a 7-day expedition around Milos, Kimolos and Poliegos (photos)
Beyond Milos Expedition
- 2003, October – Led 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 (map and photos).
- 2004, November – Led a group of 6 on a 7-day island hopping expedition from Milos to Serifos.
- 2005, April – Led 2 others on a 6-day expedition from Milos to Santorini (map and photos).
- 2005, November – Led 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 (map and photos).
- 2006, May – Led a group of 4 on a six-day expedition from Santorini to Milos (map and photos).
- 2007, March – Led a group of 4 on a 8-day expedition from Hania to Sfakia, Western Crete (map and photos).
- 2007, April – Led a group of 5 on a 7-day expedition from Milos to Santorini (map and photos).
- 2007, October – Led a group of 5 on an 8 day, from Kos to Rhodes, a distance of 168km (map and photos).
- 2008, April – Led a group of 6 on a 8-day expedition from Milos to Santorini (map and photos).
- 2008, November – Led a group of 7 on a 12-day expedition on western and southern, Crete (map and photos).
- 2009, April – Led a group of 6 on an 7-day expedition from Milos to Santorini (map and photos).
- 2009, May – Led 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)
- 2011, April – Led a group of 5 on an 8-day expedition from Milos to Santorini (map and photos)
- 2013, March – Led a group of 9 on an 8 day expedition around the Sporades islands, Greece (map )
- 2013, April – Led a group of 9 on an 8-day expedition from Milos to Santorini (map and photos)
- 2014, March – Led a group of 10 on an 8 day expedition from Piraeus to Nafplio, Greece (map and photos)
- 2015, March – Led a group of 13 on an 8 day expedition around Laconia, SE Peloponnese, Greece (map)
- 2015, November – Led a group of 9 on an 8-day expedition around Western Crete (map and photos)
- 2016, April – Led a group of 12 on a 7-day expedition from Cape Sounion to Milos (map and photos)
- 2017, April – Led a group of 12 on an 8-day expedition from Milos to Santorini (map and photos)
- 2018 Nov – Led a group of 12 on an 8-day expedition to the Saronic island (map and photos)