At last, the moment you’ve been waiting for –learning the last ‘word’ in the Aresti language. Within Families 7 and 8 only, you will see certain figures drawn with an optional roll symbol at the apex of a looping line and two short hash marks on either side of the optional roll. The basic loop (a 7.4.1.1) is a good example:
Those hash marks are telling the pilots and judges that if there is a roll or roll combination placed between them, that it doesn’t matter where the roll or rolls is begun, but that the beginning and end of the roll(s) as flown must be symmetrical around the apex of the looping line.
You’ve done it! You’ve learned the Aresti language!
To be sure, this tutorial has not prepared you to design competition quality sequences, but you should have learned enough to pick up any sequence and understand exactly what is expected of the pilot. There are indeed many rules and nuances of figure design that you have not yet learned, but as with any language, that will come with exposure, study, and practice.
To truly become fluent in Aresti, watch the IAC Calendar for an “Introduction to Judging” seminar near you and plan to attend. The seminars are organized by the individual IAC Chapters, so don’t hesitate to ask your Chapter to put together a class if there isn’t already one scheduled nearby.
Brian Howard is the IAC Rules Chairman, a Judge's School Instructor, and a member of the CIVA Catalogue Sub-Committee
