My Memories of Tourism Activities in Kolomna Since the Early 1980s
I came to Kolomna in 1970 by assignment to KBM. That same year I met a group of guys who already had some experience in sports tourism. Their experience wasn’t extensive, but their enthusiasm for the sport was huge. The leaders were Viktor Kishko, Igor Belik, Semyon Spivak, and Alvarez Kumandin. They welcomed me into their circle, and I was hooked.
At that time KBM did not yet have an officially registered water tourism section. But creating such a section would allow us, through the trade union and the Voluntary Sports Society, to obtain better equipment (kayaks, tents, life jackets, etc.) and later to receive material support for competitions, training camps, and so on. So, we established the section. The guys suggested that I become its head. The section was officially registered in 1971. That spring I took part in a trip on the Ros River in Ukraine, and in summer Semyon Spivak (as leader) and I organized an expedition to Karelia on the Okhta River.
In 1972 young specialists Yu. Afanasyev and N. Taran arrived at KBM. I convinced them to join me on trips: in spring on the Black Cheremosh River, and in summer to the Sayan Mountains – on the Khamsara, Azas, and Biy-Khem rivers.
During those expeditions we realized how poorly we commanded the techniques of whitewater slalom while passing rapids. From that point on, we devoted all our free time to mastering these techniques – through weekend trips on the Osyotr, and by taking part in all competitions organized by the Moscow Regional Tourist Club and local clubs in the Moscow Region. Kolomna had its own tourist club, but it was poorly developed – mainly organizing rally-type gatherings for reporting purposes to the city administration. We filed route applications and passed our defenses in the Moscow Regional Tourist Club.
At the same time we were introduced to orienteering by participating in regional competitions. Both Afanasyev and I found it very appealing, as it fit perfectly with our taiga expeditions, and we decided to develop this sport in Kolomna through our section.
From 1972 until the early 1990s, water tourism developed rapidly in KBM and, respectively, in Kolomna. Many category-level trips were completed to nearly all interesting regions of the country. New young group leaders appeared and matured – foremost Yu. Afanasyev, N. Taran, V. Kuksa, A. Kalintsev, and others. At this time we also began mastering combined hiking-water routes using homemade catamarans. Afanasyev made it his goal to raise the level of the Kolomna Tourist Club so that we could function independently from the Moscow club, releasing our own groups on routes and awarding sports ranks. We had Masters of Sport (Afanasyev, Kishko) and Candidates for Master of Sport (Petrov) in water tourism. Under Afanasyev’s leadership, Kolomna began hosting schools for young tourists, as well as summer and winter orienteering competitions. We even hosted regional orienteering competitions in Kolomna.
My Memories of Tourism Activities in Kolomna Since the Early 1980s
I came to Kolomna in 1970 by assignment to KBM. That same year I met a group of guys who already had some experience in sports tourism. Their experience wasn’t extensive, but their enthusiasm for the sport was huge. The leaders were Viktor Kishko, Igor Belik, Semyon Spivak, and Alvarez Kumandin. They welcomed me into their circle, and I was hooked.
At that time KBM did not yet have an officially registered water tourism section. But creating such a section would allow us, through the trade union and the Voluntary Sports Society, to obtain better equipment (kayaks, tents, life jackets, etc.) and later to receive material support for competitions, training camps, and so on. So, we established the section. The guys suggested that I become its head. The section was officially registered in 1971. That spring I took part in a trip on the Ros River in Ukraine, and in summer Semyon Spivak (as leader) and I organized an expedition to Karelia on the Okhta River.
In 1972 young specialists Yu. Afanasyev and N. Taran arrived at KBM. I convinced them to join me on trips: in spring on the Black Cheremosh River, and in summer to the Sayan Mountains – on the Khamsara, Azas, and Biy-Khem rivers.
During those expeditions we realized how poorly we commanded the techniques of whitewater slalom while passing rapids. From that point on, we devoted all our free time to mastering these techniques – through weekend trips on the Osyotr, and by taking part in all competitions organized by the Moscow Regional Tourist Club and local clubs in the Moscow Region. Kolomna had its own tourist club, but it was poorly developed – mainly organizing rally-type gatherings for reporting purposes to the city administration. We filed route applications and passed our defenses in the Moscow Regional Tourist Club.
At the same time we were introduced to orienteering by participating in regional competitions. Both Afanasyev and I found it very appealing, as it fit perfectly with our taiga expeditions, and we decided to develop this sport in Kolomna through our section.
From 1972 until the early 1990s, water tourism developed rapidly in KBM and, respectively, in Kolomna. Many category-level trips were completed to nearly all interesting regions of the country. New young group leaders appeared and matured – foremost Yu. Afanasyev, N. Taran, V. Kuksa, A. Kalintsev, and others. At this time we also began mastering combined hiking-water routes using homemade catamarans. Afanasyev made it his goal to raise the level of the Kolomna Tourist Club so that we could function independently from the Moscow club, releasing our own groups on routes and awarding sports ranks. We had Masters of Sport (Afanasyev, Kishko) and Candidates for Master of Sport (Petrov) in water tourism. Under Afanasyev’s leadership, Kolomna began hosting schools for young tourists, as well as summer and winter orienteering competitions. We even hosted regional orienteering competitions in Kolomna.
In short, everything I described above was the springboard for the rise of Yuri Afanasyev. Later, I began winding down my activity, since I devoted more and more time to my family.
