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ESCANABA -- It looks to be the first and only ORV practical skills course of its kind in Michigan and it's right here in the U.P.  The Sportsmen's Off-Road Vehicle Association, or SORVA of Delta County, recently opened up their course at the fairgrounds.

Forty percent of all deaths from ORV accidents involve kids under the age of 16, but the SORVA group is working to reduce that statistic by building a training course to help youth learn how to properly drive their ORV.

"The two most common problems are lack of adult supervision and kids doing dangerous stunts or maneuvers because they haven't had adequate training in the use of the machines," explained SORVA member, Tim Kobasic.  "Our goal is not just give them the didactic part, the classroom part of the training, but now we're going to be able to do the hands-on."

From making proper stops to covering rough terrain, the course has multiple training tools.  Recently, Governor Granholm cut the ribbon, officially opening the course in Escanaba.  She feels it's a great step forward, toward safer recreation.

"The fact that the trail gives you all sorts of conditions and allows them to practice that is a very good thing, and parents should take a lot of comfort in that, and obviously there are experts that are training," said Granholm.

From the seed for the grass to the sand to the used tires, all the things on the course have been donated.  And the construction of the course itself was done entirely by volunteers.

"The outline is designed by the state, but the engineering was done by Raino Maki, a member of SORVA, and they now have actual specifications for that rather than just a concept," Kobasic explained.  "He's actually created a blueprint that can now be used as model across the state."

The course is required to be run by trained personnel.  It's open to the public free of charge, but by appointment only.

For more information, click here.