‘Architects of Excellence’ Coaches Series, Part 1
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 and learned to flip. And it was the place that kept him in the sport when other paths made it harder to stay.
A Front Yard That Sparks Careers
Bill Harris didn’t just build a ramp — he built a gateway. What looks from the road like a quiet family property hides one of freestyle aerial skiing’s most important grassroots facilities.
Mont Chalet features a single water ramp handcrafted from wood and a landing pond, designed so athletes can practice their initial flips and twists in the safety of summer conditions and into water before progressing to snow. For Ashton, those early jumps weren’t about medals 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 ever truly began. Instead, Mont Chalet gave him the space — and the inspiration — to keep pushing forward.
Over the years, Mont Chalet has shaped generations of aerialists. Retired Olympic athletes like Brian Currutt and Mariano Ferrario once honed their fundamentals here, proving Harris’s influence has rippled 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 on and off the ramp.
This culture created an atmosphere both welcoming and demanding — a community where young skiers learned not only to fly but to build character. For Ashton, those lessons became a compass that guided him long after he left Ohio, shaping the way he trains and the way he lives.
Giving Back to Where It Began
Today, whenever Ashton returns home, one of his first stops is Mont Chalet. He always makes time for a visit with Coach Bill — not just to say thank you, but to help inspire the next wave of young athletes standing where he once stood.
Whether motivating ten-year-olds climbing the steps for their first jumps or reminding them that every rep matters, Ashton knows his journey comes full circle in Bill Harris' front yard. Giving back isn’t an obligation. It’s a way of honoring the man who gave him his start.
A Lasting Legacy
Bill Harris is more than a coach. He is an architect of excellence — a pioneer whose vision built futures far larger than the space it occupied. Mont Chalet Freestyle, and the impact it had on Ashton’s life and on the sport itself, will echo for generations.
“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
