Important information for Racer Owners

The top flap covers the canopy and the bottom flap has soft grommets (no metal to snag or affect the rubber bands) . The bands pass through the soft grommets and secure the lines sequentially and orderly.

The packed bag looks like this and makes each stow a locking stow, preventing line dump. Thanks to To Ligado for pics of his reserve freebag (I hated to disturb mine ;) )

A few years ago, JumpShack, the manufacturer of the Racer line of rigs, updated and improved the freebag for their systems by introducing the Speedbag. This innovative bag builds on what we, as riggers, have been doing for years (stowing the lines in rubber bands) by making every stow a locking stow. This effectively takes away the possibility of line dump on the reserve. With more and more skydivers flying vertically and achieving greater terminal velocity speeds, line dump could be catastrophic on a terminal deployment.

Instead of stowing the lines in a bag, with 2 locking stows made of shock cord bungee, and the balance of the lines simply laid carefully in a loose stow pouch, the speed bag has two, overlapping, flaps with the lines stowed sequentially in rubber bands, and each stow becoming a locking stow. This way the lines HAVE to deploy sequentially, and should any band break, the next stow in line controls the deployment.

It has come to my attention that a few riggers are refusing to pack the speedbag, leaving their clients stuck when it comes to repack and inspection time. There are a couple of things to consider, and realize, here.

1: Your rigger is being a dick! The manufacturer has developed, tested and thoroughly researched the speedbag, and it works. If packed with quality (mil.spec.) rubber bands as per their instructions, the speedbag is part of the natural evolution of this sport and is designed to INCREASE the safety margins for the skydiver as the sport becomes faster and speeds become more extreme. I have intentionally cut away three times with a speedbag and each one was smooth, efficient and on heading.

2: Your rigger is being a dick! (Did I mention that already?) I have heard no valid arguements against the speedbag. There is one incident, some time ago, of a bag that was secured with 2 rubber bands, where the system was not maintained properly and the bag stripped off the reserve leaving it in the container and causing a fatality. This has NOTHING to do with the speedbag system which has multiple band stows and a completely different design. Exactly the same scenario could have happened with a bungee stow if it broke. More likely is that your "refusing rigger" is too lazy to thoroughly look at the system and is working from some kind of fear factor. Their JOB is to pack the rig according to the manufacturers instructions, and the manufacturer mandates the speedbag! 'Nough said!

3: Your rigger is being a dick! If they pack pilot emergency rigs, or any round parachutes (and they had to do at least one to get their rating) they almost certainly stow the lines in rubber bands........ and so their refusal to pack the speedbag is hypocritical at best. Oh, and the rubber inside the shock cord bungee? The same rubber as in the bands! except it is harder to see when it is about to break because of the sleeve and it only takes one break for BOTH locking stows to fail.

So, here is my offer.

If your rigger refuses to pack your rig because of the speedbag, all that you have to do is ship me your rig and I'll pack it for a dollar!

You heard me right! I'll inspect and repack your Racer for $1. Furthermore I'll take that Dollar bill to the best titty bar in town and donate it to a young lady working her way through school (at least that's what she told me).

Now, of course, I'm not going to just give everybody a cheap repack. You have to pay the shipping both ways and enclose a $1 Bill and a note from the rigger explaining why he/she won't pack the rig with a speedbag. I'm not going to debate them, I will never have a battle of wits with an unarmed person, but I have to make sure you're not just trying to get a really cheap repack. Other than that, there are no catches. I believe in the speedbag and it's benefits to the point where I jump with one on my reserve AND my main. If you've ever experienced line dump and the associated openings you should appreciate the manufacturers efforts to prevent this.

So, if you're stuck with a rigger who's behaving like a real dick with regards to the speedbag, email me here sid@sidsrigging.com and I'll take care of you.

That is all.