‘Architects of Excellence’ Coaches Series, Part 3

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, 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 full water ramp and pond, designed so athletes can practice their flips and twists in the safety of summer conditions 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 mentor — to keep pushing forward.

Blueprint for Grit

Bill’s philosophy has always been built on generosity. He never charged athletes for his time or his facility. All he asked was commitment: show up, work hard, respect the process. That open door created opportunities for kids who might not have had them otherwise.

Ashton was one of those kids. When the path wasn’t easy, Bill made it possible. His front yard ramp became a lifeline, keeping Ashton in the sport and igniting the drive that carried him from Ohio to the World Cup stage.

Over the years, Mont Chalet has shaped generations of aerialists. Retired 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, aerials were never just about tricks. From day one, Bill taught his athletes that discipline, respect, and accountability mattered as much as learning a new flip. He expected them to show up on time, put in the work, 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 makes time for 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’s 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 front-yard vision created futures far bigger than the space it occupies. Without Mont Chalet, there may never have been a freestyle aerialist named Ashton Salwan.

The impact Bill made on Ashton’s life — and on the sport itself — will echo for generations.

“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 still call Bill a mentor and friend.” ~Ashton Salwan