[A Generational Coach] From Mont Chalet’s front yard to the World Cup stage, Bill Harris’s mentorship made Ashton Salwan’s journey in freestyle aerials possible.
Where Dreams Take Flight
In Chesterland, Ohio, a front yard became the doorway to a dream. Rising above the grass and spilling into a cool pond, Bill Harris’s Mont Chalet Freestyle Training Center may look humble, but for Ashton Salwan, it was everything. It was the first place he strapped on skis at age ten, learned to flip, and began developing the confidence that would carry him forward. It was also the place that helped keep him in the sport when other paths felt uncertain.
A Front Yard That Sparks Careers
Bill Harris didn’t just build a ramp — he built a gateway. What appears from the road to be a quiet family property hides one of freestyle aerial skiing’s most influential grassroots training environments.
Mont Chalet features a single, handcrafted wooden water ramp and landing pond, allowing athletes to practice foundational flips and twists safely into water during the summer months before progressing to snow. For Ashton, those early jumps weren’t about results or rankings; they were about courage, repetition, and discovering what was possible.
Without Bill opening his doors, Ashton’s journey in aerials might have ended before it truly began. Instead, Mont Chalet gave him the space — and the inspiration — to keep moving forward.
“Bill didn’t just build a ramp - he built a path forward. I wouldn’t be where I am today without that first leap in his front yard.” ~Ashton Salwan
Over the years, Mont Chalet has helped shape generations of aerialists. Retired Olympic athletes such as Brian Currutt and Mariano Ferrario once honed their fundamentals here, underscoring the lasting influence of Harris’s program across decades.
Character Above All Else
At Mont Chalet, freestyle aerials were never just about tricks. From day one, Bill Harris taught his athletes that discipline, respect, and accountability mattered as much as learning a new skill. He expected them to show up on time, put in the work, respect the process, and carry themselves with integrity both on and off the ramp.
That standard created an environment that was both welcoming and demanding — a place where young skiers learned not only how to fly, but how to build character. For Ashton, those lessons became a compass that continues to guide him, shaping how he trains, competes, and approaches each new challenge.
Giving Back to Where It Began
Today, whenever Ashton returns home, one of his first stops is Mont Chalet. He makes time to visit Coach Bill — both to reconnect and to help inspire the next generation of young athletes now standing where he once stood.
Whether motivating ten-year-olds climbing the steps for their first jumps or reminding them that every repetition matters, Ashton feels his journey come full circle in Bill Harris’s front yard. Giving back isn’t an obligation; it’s a way of honoring the foundation that made everything possible.
A Lasting Legacy
Bill Harris is more than a coach. He is an architect of excellence — a pioneer whose vision built futures far greater than the space it occupies. Mont Chalet Freestyle, and the role it played in Ashton’s development, represents the kind of impact that extends well beyond any single athlete.
“Coach Bill taught me how to fly, but more importantly, he taught me how to carry myself. Every time I go back to Mont Chalet, I’m reminded of where it all started - and I’m grateful to call him my mentor and friend.” ~Ashton Salwan
That legacy — rooted in generosity, discipline, and belief — will continue to echo through the sport for generations to come.
