When exactly was the club founded, how did it all begin, and was there a specific story or moment that served as a starting point?
The club was founded on May 18, 2021, by a group of highly professional and experienced mountaineers and travelers. Before that, we were active within another organization—the "Pedestrian Tourism Union"—where we ran a section called the "Bars Sports Group," which had already existed for about 6–7 years at the time.
However, at a certain point, we felt that further growth and development required independence and a different format. This led to our decision to establish the Tenir-Too Club. Overall, what we are doing today fully aligns with the goals we pursued when founding the club.
We continue to grow and develop, embarking on more challenging and exciting expeditions, and participating in both local and international competitions. We are continuously improving technically, maintaining and raising the safety levels of our trips, and, of course, teaching people the fundamentals of mountain tourism.
Why mountain tourism as a sport specifically? Rather than just regular hiking or mountaineering (alpinism).
From the very beginning, we wanted to travel through the mountains. Our initial group consisted of people who truly wanted to discover something new, explore uncharted places, and learn things previously unknown to them. The format of multi-day trekking and expeditions was the perfect fit for this.
It all started with fairly simple trips: one-day outings, then two-day treks. We experimented with different formats.
Unlike mountaineering (alpinism), where the primary goal is reaching a specific peak via a defined route, tourism requires moving from Point A to Point B—and in our case, specifically through rugged mountain terrain.
Simultaneously, such a journey can cover a much broader region, a wider territory, and a vaster geography. This allows us to see far more interesting and new things.
Therefore, our activities naturally fell into the category of mountain tourism. That is how this sport was chosen, and we focused our future development strictly on it. As a clearly defined sport, mountain tourism has its own regulations, definitions, and goals that must be achieved. Ultimately, treating mountain tourism as a sport structures our activities perfectly; it is the most suitable format for us and fully reflects our interests. This is why we practice mountain tourism, and everything we do fits perfectly into its definition.
What moment in the club's history do you consider the most important: a specific trip, a victory, or a person's choice?
I believe there is no single moment that is more important than another.
There is a process—the life of the club itself, which functions as a complex organization. Every single moment matters. Every decision matters.
In my view, the most critical thing is to stay true to yourself and the core ideas upon which this club was built. If we do that, we will achieve the goals we set. The club will grow and flourish, while simultaneously developing mountain tourism across the entirety of Kyrgyzstan.
What is the one thing you definitely do not want to change in the club, no matter how much it grows?
There are fundamental pillars that I would never want to change in the club.
First and foremost, our club is about exploring and traveling through the mountains.
The sporting spirit: we are a sports club. What we do must always remain within the framework of official sports, maintaining strict requirements for physical and technical training.
And the third is the non-profit component. Specifically, I absolutely do not want the club to shift onto commercial tracks. We do this for the sake of our club members, pursuing our shared goals and plans entirely through our own passion and funding.
The questions were answered by Adilet Zhumaev, Director of the Public Association "Sports Club of Mountain Tourism 'Tenir-Too'"