In 1976, a small group of students from the Frunze Polytechnic Institute, led by Anatoly Kondratievich Shimokhin, a lecturer from the "Metal Cutting Machines" department, and Daniil Iosifovich Chernyak, a physical education lecturer, created and installed a lift of their own original design on the slopes of the mountains at the entrance to the Kashka-Suu gorge and prepared a downhill track for winter recreation and slalom activities. In the autumn of 1978, skiing enthusiasts from the V.I. Lenin factory were invited to work on the slopes' improvement and the repair of the cable car. Through joint efforts, the lift's drive was moved 100 meters higher, to the place where all the lifts are currently located. Over the course of more than two months, the chosen slope was cleared of wild rose bushes. As a result, the length of the track was 800 meters with a width of 25 meters. In the following years, the downhill track was expanded until it reached its current size.
The club was not officially organized but gradually filled with enthusiasts from other enterprises and organizations, who earned the right to use the lifts based on the results of autumn work on the cable car repairs and track preparations. It should be noted that the "outsiders" were treated quite loyally at the base.
The existence of the base was based on an agreement with the management of the state farm and some assistance from the shepherds who kept flocks of sheep in the area. However, in the summer, an unknown person cut a large piece of the pulling cable. It had to be shortened and re-braided. To prevent further looting, the engine and cable had to be removed. Since there were no buildings, they had to be hidden in the bushes.
With the assistance of the factory management, a second cable car with a higher lifting speed was installed on the mountain in 1980. It was set up parallel to the first one. In 1981, an unexpected resolution from the Council of Ministers of the Republic was issued, which mandated the dismantling of all lifts in the Kashka-Suu and Oruu-Sai gorge areas. Only the base in Oruu-Sai and the base of Kyrgyzdvigatel were allowed to continue their activities on the designated lands. The enthusiasts from the Frunze factory quickly dismantled their base and relocated it to another site, but the tiny base of Promproekt was less fortunate: by someone's order, the lift's drive was crushed by a bulldozer, and the cabin was pushed into a ravine. Perhaps the lifts of the Polytechnic Institute survived due to the lack of a road leading to the cable car area.
Thanks to the efforts of the Chairman of the Ski Federation, Alexander Ivanovich Ivanov, and the representative of the Sports Committee, Galina Timofeevna Aleksandrova, permission was obtained at that time to install and operate the lifts for skiers from the FPI and ZIL in winter without any construction. Thus, the existence of the base was legalized.
In the following years, the first cable car was shortened to 400 meters - its speed was low, so it was mainly used (as it is now) by beginner skiers - while the second, 800 meters long, led to the start of the track.
When in 1983 the administration of the V.I. Lenin factory decided to build its own ski base, some skiers left the mountain. At that time, the core of the club was formed, which included skiers working in various organizations in the city. By this time, the Polytechnic Institute no longer provided assistance to the base. Since there were quite a few skiers working at the factory, materials were obtained for the construction of a 1500-meter lift that transported skiers from 1700 to 2200 meters above sea level. The installation of the drive was carried out, as before, in a makeshift manner but with great enthusiasm. After all, the downhill track, due to the terrain features, was about 2 kilometers long, and the panorama up there opened almost like in the Caucasus. At that time, a dedicated power substation was also installed.
The base has existed for over 30 years. During this time, the number of vacationers has constantly increased. The strongest skiers at the base became Andrey Malyshev and Svetlana Klimenko. Promising newcomers include Olya Palutkina and Igor Pak.
Over the years, the downhill tracks have been expanded and transformed into well-maintained lawns with a sturdy turf cover. The separation of the lift tracks from the downhill tracks guarantees safety and makes it impossible for a skier to collide with the cable car supports.
In addition to these three lifts, an auxiliary cable car was installed, allowing skiers to quickly ascend to the skiing area from below the parking lot. During the peak season, more than 60 cars would accumulate at the bottom!
It should be noted that the lifts were constantly improved year after year, but nevertheless remained somewhat unreliable. Over time, thanks to the efforts of club members such as Taranenko V.P., Malyshev A.S., Palutkin G.V., Popov Z.V., and Guzov I.V., they began to operate almost flawlessly. Switches were installed on the lift supports, allowing the cable car to be stopped in emergency situations. The drives of the first and second cable cars were moved into a container, where electrical equipment and workbenches for minor repairs were also placed. At the same time, the club and the base, which colloquially became known as "Polytech," were legally registered and received a lease agreement for the land under the lifts.
During the turbulent times of the early 90s, the local akimat attempted to impose an unmanageable rental fee not only on the narrow strip under the cable cars but also on the downhill tracks. Perhaps the article "Tax on Recreation" by club member N.I. Trukhanov in the newspaper "Slovo Kyrgyzstana" played a role in the cancellation of this decision.
In 1998, due to certain circumstances, the club transferred the base into private ownership to another legal entity; as a result, the third cable car at the base was replaced with a lift with permanent suspensions, a road was laid to the skiing area, a snow groomer was purchased, and neutral equipment for catering was installed.
Every autumn, many club members come to the base to prepare it for the new season: the cable cars are repaired by a group led by Malyshev A.S., and the downhill tracks are mowed by a team of mowers commanded by Pak Y.F.
The spacious slopes of varying steepness allow skiers to choose a descent according to their skill level. Three lifts minimize waiting time in line. In recent years, the downhill tracks have been prepared by a snow groomer (rather than being trampled by skiers as before). All of this has made the "Polytech" base extremely popular among skiing enthusiasts. Additionally, beginner skiers can count on the help of instructors: the basics of alpine skiing technique are taught by Pak Y.F., Taranenko O., and Trukhanov N.I.
But even those who want to improve their technique do not refuse qualified advice.
The excellent skiing skills of all club members and the work of the instructors have led to the average skiing level and preparedness of skiers at the "Polytech" base being higher than at other bases.
The report was prepared by Nikolai Ivanovich Trukhanov, a member of the ski club "Polytech" since 1978, born in 1947. He worked at the V.I. Lenin factory from 1975 to 1997. At the "Polytech" base, together with other instructors, he teaches beginner skiers and helps improve the technique of those who have already mastered skiing.
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