Newb here, PRCP problems

[fallingguy 0]

Hi all. New student here. I am taking static line lessons and was wondering if anyone else has had the same issues I seem to be having.
I have 2 unsuccessful PRCP jumps. When I practice my sequence on the ground, it goes perfect. Arch, Look, Reach, Pull, etc. In both jumps, I have failed to even locate the ripcord, and ended up aborting even trying to pull it. To complicate matters, on my last jump, my reserve handle came unstowed, most likely as a result of me flailing, trying to find the ripcord.
Its very discouraging, because others who have taken the class after me, are already on freefall, and I think this is causing some confidence issues for me. I don't want to be still on S/L at jump 13 or 14, and I don't want to hear the dreaded 'bowling speech'.
Anyone else have similar issues? How did you deal with them? This is honestly the funnest thing I have ever done, and I really want to progress

[rifleman 70]

Hi, I'm a S/L student as well and all I can offer is the advice that my instructor gave me before my first PRCP jump - put your hand on your butt cheek (his words were even a muppet can find their arse without a map) then slide it up until you find the PRCP handle. It seems to work.

Atheism is a Non-Prophet Organisation

[mjl06750 0]

Noob question....what's the bowling speech?

[faulknerwn 38]

I was quite a bad student in my day :). Took me 48 jumps to get off student status. Now, 8000 jumps later, I think I've figured it out :).

You can read my student logbook herehttp://crwdog.servebeer.com/CRWdog/HowCRW.html

Biggest tip is relax and arch. Believe me I know that's easier said than done but just don't forget to breathe !!!!

[skymama 37]

Welcome to the forums!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[fallingguy 0]

Thanks for the advice! I think you guys are right. I need to relax more, and I do think I still get kinda nervous before each jump. I just have to keep practicing this on the ground. I won't be able to go back until next weekend, at least, so I will give an update then.

@mjl, the 'bowling speech' is a friendly suggestion from an instructor to a student that perhaps they might want to consider other activities instead of skydiving.

@Faulkner, S/L jumps didn't count towards your total jumps?

[popsjumper 2]

Quote

Thanks for the advice! I think you guys are right. I need to relax more, and I do think I still get kinda nervous before each jump.

Nervous is normal. Heck, if you're not nervous jumping out of an airplane, you must be crazy!

Quote

@Faulkner, S/L jumps didn't count towards your total jumps?

I'll jump the gun here for Wendy and say, all jumps, including S/L count towards your license requirements and are included in your total jump number. Heck...you made a jump Count it!

Before anyone can offer any real help, we first have to know what type of system you are using,

Where is your 'ripcord' located on your equipment?
And what does it actually do, specifically, when you pull the 'ripcord'?
Do you have a spring-loaded main pilot chute?

My reality and yours are quite different.
I think we're all Bozos on this bus.
Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239

[fallingguy 0]

Quote

Quote

Thanks for the advice! I think you guys are right. I need to relax more, and I do think I still get kinda nervous before each jump.

Nervous is normal. Heck, if you're not nervous jumping out of an airplane, you must be crazy!

Quote

@Faulkner, S/L jumps didn't count towards your total jumps?

I'll jump the gun here for Wendy and say, all jumps, including S/L count towards your license requirements and are included in your total jump number. Heck...you made a jump Count it!

Before anyone can offer any real help, we first have to know what type of system you are using,

Where is your 'ripcord' located on your equipment?
And what does it actually do, specifically, when you pull the 'ripcord'?
Do you have a spring-loaded main pilot chute?

The ripcord handle is located at the front of my right hip. It is just a dummy ripcord that I need to practice with, and the PC is spring-loaded.
It definitely has to be mental, because I practice it on the ground and in the hanging harness. I think I just get sensory overload when I let go from the strut.

[TsunamiGilligan 0]

I'm a static line progression student myself. My instructor had me do 25 practice touches on the ground to build muscle memory. It feels silly to do, but it really does help.

In the air, don't feel like you have to race the static line. Don't feel like you've failed if the parachute is opening before you get the PRCP. Keep trying until you get it, and let your instructor make the call if you were successful. If you get it on your first or even second reach, you should be okay.

Good luck!

[dthames 0]

I have been doing SL as well. I didn't have the problem you described but until you can have good form on the exit, looking up, watching the plane, you might also have problems with the pull. I was doing great with my form until my practice pull and my form went to pot. If you don't have the control for good form, you can expect trouble in other areas. Use that for a bit of a guage on how you are doing all around.

Once you put the rig on, practice, over and over. I feel like I can just grab it without even thinking, but ever time I put the rig on, I arch, reach, grab, and do that many times before we load up. People might look at my like a first jumper but I don't care.

Be careful not to get hung up on others progress and your lack of progress. We all learn at different rates. I am a bit slow on some of the objectives, but I just keep after it.

For whoever asked, the bowling speech is, "You should be looking for another sport, like bowling."

I got that, and just went to another DZ where they would work with me.

Instructor quote, “What's weird is that you're older than my dad!”

[JasonYergin 0]

I was a S/L student and I had the same number of misses.

After that I said ok, I'll pretend like it's real instead of practice and I'll damn sure get it then.

That's what worked for me. Make jokes when you're going up to altitude too. That might help...

_________________________________

...Don't Get Elimated!!

[Spills 0]

I failed my first PRCP on a Sunday. I practiced a ton to get it into muscle memory. 3 times a day I did a set of 15 practice pulls. I closed my eyes looked at the instructor, jumped off the strut, arched, counted and pulled each time. I had no problem from then on.

You can keep visualizing the process as well. When I am riding up to altitude for an RW jump I am visualizing the jump from my point of view and 3rd person. My hands are moving and my head is turning to see what I should be looking at. You look silly as hell but it works for me and it seems to be quite common on a belly load to look around the plane and see people with their eyes closed visualizing the jump.

Being really new though, you could probably just practice on the ground and spend the ride to altitude thinking of things to relax you. Breathe and smile even if it is forced, they say it helps. And if you arch like crazy it will keep you stable. Think of a badminton birdie it always falls the way it does because of its shape.

If your static line program is as cheap as mine was its not that big of a deal if you fail a jump. If you don’t pressure your self as much and realize that even if you miss the pull you still get to jump out of a plane and practice your canopy skills. After you are done with your license it might cost you money to get canopy coaching anyways.

[Quagmirian 40]

Just looked at my log book. I am recently qualified and it took me a total of 15 static line jumps before I progressed to freefall. Some people just have a knack for these things, and I got very annoyed when people qualified in 18 jumps, but a way you can think of it is that every jump counts as more experience. I also needed 10 mins of wind tunnel time to help with my 10 and 15 sec delays, but the advantage of that is that it made my turns and unstable exit really easy later on.

[fallingguy 0]

Thanks for all the good advice everyone. I am hoping to get back this weekend, but work decided to get in the way, so I am not sure now. If not, Wednesday is looking good for me. Will keep you all posted on my progress!