Practice pulls...is it always this frustrating?

[Ion01 2]

Maybe I am wanting to progress faster than I am but my last three jumps were pretty frustrating. They were all practice pulls in the stactic line style training. The first one I reached back, had a little trouble finding the knotted line I was supposed to pull and throw, but I found it as soon as I felt it it fell out and went flying past me. I was a little down but it was only my first attempt. My second one was really my fault. I found it and pulled it but my body position was not good when I finally got it so it didn't count. My third was the same as the first. I found it almost immediately but it fell out! The falling out thing is really frustrating me. Of course the other part is that your chute is already coming out so the bag has moved up and without the chute in the bag the place where the pilot chute normally goes, that I am reaching for, is flopping around. Anyways, is it normally this frustrating or am I just being impatient about my progress. I think I am wanting to progess to fast as I am on jump number 6, I just don't want to feel like I am behind.
On the upside my 6th jump was off of the radio. I flew back myself in the pattern and did a great stand up landing that was slow enough that I only took to steps forward before stopping.
Anyways, are the practice pulls always this frustrating and does it usually take a few jumps before you get it?

[Gato 0]

I have 7 practice pulls, I think. So yes, it can be very frustrating. For me, I never had trouble getting the handle, it was just body position or kicking when I came off the airplane.

I won't try to give you advice, but what worked for me was rehearsing the physical motions on the ground during the week before the jump. The timing part was super important for me.

One or two of your instructors probably has a method of practice or ideas that could help you. Don't give up!

Get that friggin' handle.

T.I.N.S.

[Andrewwhyte 1]

Training pulls can be very frustrating. The important thing to remember is that when you have 100 jumps it will not matter whether you did 3 or 10 TPs.
That said why don't you take more control of your destiny; make your own throwing dummies. Are you using newspaper? If you are try folding a bit over on each end and securing it with a rubber band. One end is to give you something to grab, the other is to ensure the dummy stays in the pouch until you pull it.

[NickDG 23]

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger . . .

Eventually you'll be able to find the handle as easily as finding your business end when peeing in the dark.

Those of us who did S/L with ripcords had the same troubles too. And we could just look down and actually see the damn thing . . .

NickD

[Ion01 2]

Thanks for the replies. We are using crate paper with knots tied on each end. I was going to make the knots bigger on the next one so it doesn't fall out.
Of course even if I keep missing it I still get to keep jumping and piloting my chute so as long as I am still jumping there really isn't anything to complain about.

[NickDG 23]

>>Of course even if I keep missing it I still get to keep jumping and piloting my chute so as long as I am still jumping there really isn't anything to complain about.
You have the perfect attitude . . .

Maybe you can PM, as a fellow student, this fellow who's being way too hard on himself, and help straighten him out!

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=3301244;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

NickD

[fallfast69 3]

If you are trying to beat the static line...you're probably going to cotinue to have trouble. Ask you're instructor if he wants you to "demonstrate the ability to pull in a timely manner", or if he's expecting you to time it with the static-line deployment.

Practice your counts at every oportunity...at home, at work, in your car. Then take your time and DON'T rush the count on your next jump.

It'll work for ya!

Jon

[hcsvader 1]

I had the same problem with practise pulls. Either the paper falling out as I was climbing or being unable to find it due to the container being open. My favourite fail tho was after missing the paper 2 time times in one day I went up for another jump and got the paper no problem and i was so pumped I held on to the paper i held it up and waved it at my instructor so he could see that i got it.... then i got failed for holding onto the paper. Everyone at the DZ was ridin me pretty hard for that one.

So i went up for a my 4th practise pull of the day. As I was getting geared up the DZO came up and took my paper and wrote "GAY PORN" on it and stuffed it into the BOC and told me make sure i throw it away!!! Your not allowed to bring gay porn back to the DZ!!!

So I went and did my jump and nailed it!! Threw away the gay porn! Got on the next load and did my first 3 second delay!

Then went a bought beer!

In all I did 7 practise pulls. Don't dwell on it, you'll get it soon enough. If your really that anxious to buy beer for first freefall im sure everyone at the DZ will accept it in advance. Just keep gettin in the plane and keep on havin fun!

Have you seen my pants?
it"s a rough life, Livin' the dream
>:)

[Arvoitus 1]

Quote

Training pulls can be very frustrating. The important thing to remember is that when you have 100 jumps it will not matter whether you did 3 or 10 TPs.

So true. I had to do 19 PRCP's before I got to do my first hop'n'pop. Body position,kicking,couldn't find the handle. I did it all. On the worst days I did 6 attempts and only got 1 approved pull. Just don't give up and keep practicing. Eventually you get it and get off of the static line.

Your rights end where my feelings begin.

[NickDG 23]

>>I had to do 19 PRCP's before I got to do my first hop'n'pop. Body position,kicking,couldn't find the handle. I did it all. On the worst days I did 6 attempts and only got 1 approved pull.
I've found, and it's worth saying, people like you eventually can and do become great skydiving Instructors.

Some of the worst instructors are the wonder kids who breeze through their own student experience without any problems. They just aren't able to fathom why others have issues, they can't empathize, and they can't come up with imaginative fixes . . .

NickD

[danielcroft 2]

Quote

I've found, and it's worth saying, people like you eventually can and do become great skydiving Instructors.

Some of the worst instructors are the wonder kids who breeze through their own student experience without any problems. They just aren't able to fathom why others have issues, they can't empathize, and they can't come up with imaginative fixes . . .

NickD

Same is true everywhere IMO, not just skydiving. That's why the "Those that can, do; those that can't, teach" thing is such a load of BS. Usually, those that can, can't teach.

[Ion01 2]

Those are great stories! I can't wait to get back up and try it again but I can't go this weekend. I will hopefully get a couple in next weekend though. I have so much fun flying the canopy that not doing any real freefall isn't that big a deal right now, especially since I am off the radio. I think the funnest thing about training in this sport is the sense of accomplishment. Each step I take twards my liscence is exiting!

[NickDG 23]

That's a very good point. When everyone did static line they could and would first concentrate purely on just saving themselves under canopy. Once they had a good handle on that they'd move on to learn freefall.

It's kind of ass backwards now . . .

NickD

[Ion01 2]

Quote

That's a very good point. When everyone did static line they could and would first concentrate purely on just saving themselves under canopy. Once they had a good handle on that they'd move on to learn freefall.

It's kind of ass backwards now . . .

NickD

Thats kind of why I chose static line. The first few jumps there is actually very little to think about. That way you can concentrate on each aspect of the jump as you progress instead of having to deal with everything right from the start. Now that I know I can handle things on my own once under canopy its a lot easier to think about what I have to do before it opens.

[faulknerwn 38]

Read my student logbook :)
http://crwdog.servebeer.com/CRWdog/HowCRW.html

That was a little over 5000 jumps, various ratings and a few world records ago. I sucked :-) Keep trying!

[Ion01 2]

Well, I got my pull this weekend and if I get my next one this next weekend I will be doing my own pulls!!
2 Keys to my success.
1. The instructor made my dummy chute for the pull so it didn't fall out in the wind.
2. relaxing!
This is such a high energy sport that relaxing really is one of the best things one can do. I have noticed that in alot of different areas discussed here when people are having difficulty they are simply told to relax. It really makes that big of a difference!
My instructor, who is incredible by the way, talked to me quite a bit before going up. I, of course, have been taking the attitude that no matter what happens I am still making a jump, so that helps. He told me that once I make my way to the wing and am hanging, and once he gives me the go ahead, to just hang for a second or two and take a big breath and relax, go over what I have to do in my head and take my time to execute it. Also, on the way up he asked if I was ready, I said yep, then he was like "dude, your getting ready to jump out of a plane, how cool is that! Come on...are you ready!" So I answered "I"M READY!!!"
This was the best advice I could have been given. Its not that I am scared or anything but this being such a high energy event you really have to relax. Taking a second and breath while hanging and taking my time to execute made it almost too easy!
Thats another thing, taking your time and enjoying the experience. While it is happening it may feel like you are taking forever but your brain is actually moving so fast because of the exitement that you are still acting fast even though you think you are going slow. I thought I had taken entirely to long to get the pull but when I got on the ground he said I got it really fast.
Anyways, I can't wait for next saterday. We talked and I will get there early and if it takes all day he said he will have me pulling by the end of the day. Of course if I do as good as this last time I will be pulling before the end of the day!

P.S. Relaxing also makes the jump a lot more fun. I think this was the most fun jump I have done so far!