Michal is absolutely awesome! We heard about First Gear Skid School from Top Cops, my daughter's driving school. Since First Gear has taught so many police to handle less than optimal conditions, signing our kids up was a no brainer. Having learned to drive from the best, we figured we'd keep it that way. So as winter approaches, we asked Michal if he could fit a bunch of our kids in a class for winter driving. Classroom time goes over the physics and dynamics of tire traction, gravity, and speed, as well as reviewing safe defensive driving and stopping skills. Michal draws on first hand experiences from emergency medicine to illustrate concepts with real consequences that stick with you long after class is over. To fully integrate classroom information, First Gear uses state of the art, highly specialized equipment which allows the instructor to put the vehicle into a variety of skids without the danger of rolling the vehicle. The four hour class gave our kids real hands on experience and confidence to handle a wide variety of situations and road conditions. It sure beats the way most of us learned about skids! Michal has a calm, supportive manner which engenders confidence in his students. He creates realistic scenarios -including loud music - so students are learning and using real skills that will transfer to the open road. It is this combination of unparalleled instruction, humor, understanding and state of the art equipment that makes First Gear Skid School the ultimate skid/drifting experience. read more

An absolutely amazing class and opportunity! Paired with an in-depth lecture about "Driving Distracted" was the perfect combination for my soon to be driving teen. The driving lesson itself was about 2.5 - 3 hours which enabled the hands on experience of safely getting out of all the different kinds of skids one may encounter when driving. I learned that the repetition of going into a skid one after another over and over again creates a "muscle memory" which will kick in when a person goes into panic mode during any future skids. I have to say I will rest more peacefully when my daughter gets her drivers licence and is out on the road in inclement weather. I also have to say that any age can benefit from this class so I look forward to taking it myself in the future. Thank you Michael for making this class available for our children. And, thank you for your enthusiasm with helping people to be safer on the road. read more

Excellent! Michal led an exciting and fun class for our entire department at Commerce City. The training began with an informative classroom session that reminded us all of the dangers in driving and the responsibility we each have to ourselves and one another when on the road. The real fun began about an hour into the class when we all got to feel like drivers in Fast and Furious! Michal, through his knowledge and humor, kept everyone engaged and provided valuable lessons on how to control a vehicle through a number of different scenarios. Even the employees that usually hate training and try to avoid it had high praise for the class. Everyone in our department feels like they are improved drivers and better equipped to handle a vehicle under difficult conditions. read more

A driving school with behind the wheel exposure on how to recover when loosing control of the front end and/or back end of your vehicle. This behind the wheel experience will retrain your eyes and muscle memory on how to respond when loss of control occurs. Michal has a very tactical approach to exposing old habits and developing new habits related to driving technique. The classroom portion does a great job of discussing the physics of a vehicle in motion, as well as, reviews some real life scenarios of poor driving decisions that don't end very well. Michal has some very sobering stories from his days as a first responder. I suggest this course for you and your family. read more

Why are you taking this course? This is one question our instructor, Michal, did not ask the class. He didn't need to, simply because everyone can benefit from this class, regardless of age, experience level, etc. By the end of the class, I felt equipped with the confidence and control behind the wheel to be able to safely handle various skid control and avoidance situations. Overall, Michal was a great instructor and I would recommend this course to anyone who drives their car in Colorado during the winter. P.S. If you do well enough, you might also receive a Certificate of Completion afterwards ! Although, my last name was misspelled on mine, so that was a major bummer... read more

I took this class last weekend and loved every minute of it. The classroom portion was engaging and a great reminder of the responsibilities we all have while driving. The driving portion of the class was fantastic! The small class size offered way more driving time than I expected and it was so fun! Michal has a true passion for this subject and is such a great teacher. Every mistake that is made comes with more learning and explanation while still keeping everything light-hearted and fun. Michal is very funny and energetic, the four hours went by quickly and I learned so much. I wish there was a level 2 to this class so I could do it again! read more

I recently had a class with Michal. I am not a confident driver and was nervous about taking the class. However, my lesson with Michal was great! He was extremely patient, and did everything to help me feel comfortable, which I really appreciated. He is also a really skilled teacher, and was able to explain everything in a clear and precise manner. I felt like a got a ton out of his driving class in just the short time we had. Plus, he was extremely professional and timely about organizing the class. I strongly recommend him to anyone looking to improve their skills! read more

I highly encourage any driver to take this driving class. I can personally testify that the technique taught in this class works. During a snow storm I was driving. I tried to slow to take a turn at an intersection when my vehicle broke traction and started to slide forward. By using the technique taught by Michal Michalkow, I was able to safely complete the turn. I fear that I may slid past the turn or collide with the curb if I had not used what I'd learned. Thanks First Gear Skid School! read more

I've wanted to learn how to respond to skidding for decades. This class is awesome. The pneumatic technology is a work of genius. Michal knows vehicle handling backwards, forwards--and sideways! More, he knows how to teach. He guides the small group of driver students through a progression of experience that builds easily and logically. He knows how and when to add distractive and surprise elements. And, he's totally personable and loves teaching this material. I'd give 10 stars! read more

What an amazing course! Took the ultimate distracted/defensive driver training class today and I was left speechless with how much I learned. I wish I was able to have this training before the accident I was in, because I know it would have helped me control my car and prevent going off the road. Taking this course is a must for every driver, no matter what the experience! Great class, great instructors! Thank you Aware & Alive and First Gear Driving Academy! read more

This class is a must for drivers of all ages and abilities! Michal is extremely knowledgeable and patient. By the end of the class, I didn't want to stop skidding! I have a new confiednce in my abilities to control a skid and I feel that this class could truly save my life or someone else's! Michal is an EMT and is passionate about saving lives, it reflects in his instruction during the course. You can expect 2 new students when my kids start to drive! read more

I work in the oil and gas industry and have taken numerous driver safety courses over the years. This course was probably the most hands on course that I have taken and Michal was without a doubt the best instructor I have ever had!! He was patient, entertaining, and very knowledgeable about driving safety. I would definitely recommend First Gear for anyone that drives in wet or snowy conditions. read more

My daughter took the skid course & it was great. She learned so much and has been passing on her wisdom to her brother, mother and me. I sat in for the 1st hour of training in the classroom and was impressed with Michal's story about why he began training people to be safe drivers as well as his entire seminar. It was a great investment into our daughter's driving career and life. read more

Michal and First Gear offer much needed skid control classes. Whether you're a seasoned driver or a teen just getting behind the wheel First Gear Driving Academy is for you. Refresh your skills and learn new ones. I took his class and was able to get more comfortable with skid control techniques in a controlled situation and with side-by-side coaching! read more

I enrolled in a course taught by Michal, which I believe is essential for all drivers. Michal's exceptional teaching skills, along with the relevance and importance of the lessons he imparts, make the learning experience enjoyable. His passion for educating on such a crucial subject is undoubtedly the primary motivation for enrolling in this class. read more

My girls took this and loved it! Before we went they complained and dreaded going, but after the first 5 minutes into his class they couldn't help but love it. He is engaging, knowledgeable and the hands on was extraordinary. Parents, if you can do one thing for your teen, send them to skid school. It could save their life. read more

This course is great training and practice to prepare drivers for adverse road conditions. It accurately simulates skids and teaches you how to keep yourself safe and regain control as quickly as possible. I recommend this course to anyone that has the chance of encountering wet or icy roads (which is everyone!). read more

I took this class thinking I am decent driver with good reaction time. Well, this class was very humbling. I learned a lot, and many of my bad habits were challenged during this course. I recommend this class to anyone who drives a vehicle, regardless of time spent behind the wheel. read more

Took the course today and had the time of my life while I was there. Super fun, and the instructor Michal is great to be taught by. His course is very informative and makes you think twice about getting behind the wheel and being aware. Would recommend to anyone. read more