See It in Action — Video Feature Below

Salwan & Kotovskyi Strike Gold

On December 14, 2024, under the icy glow of the northern lights and with a packed hillside cheering below, Ashton Salwan soared to new heights at the 2024/25 Europa Cup season opener at the Ruka Ski Resort in Kuusamo, Finland. Teaming up with Ukrainian powerhouse Dmytro "Dyma" Kotovskyi, the duo delivered a show-stopping performance in the men’s synchronized aerials final — clinching 1st place with a perfectly executed Back-Full-Double-Full that electrified the judges and crowd alike.

This Wasn't Just a Win — It Was a Statement

For Ashton, a U.S. independent athlete grinding his way onto the world stage, this gold medal marked a pivotal milestone. Months of summer training, cross-continental camps, and late-night conditioning sessions all culminated in this singular moment of shared precision and power. In perfect sync, Ashton and Dyma launched into the Ruka sky, twisting and flipping through a complex maneuver that demands air awareness, timing, and trust — then stomped the landing with authority.

It was Ashton’s first international podium finish AND synchronized event — what a way to kick things off.

The result solidified Ashton’s reputation as a rising force in the freestyle aerials world and further highlighted the power of global collaboration in sport. What began as a spontaneous team-up turned into a gold-medal-winning partnership built on mutual respect and technical mastery.

From the frozen peaks of Finland, Ashton’s momentum is building — and the world is starting to take notice.

“That moment in Ruka was surreal — we trusted each other, hit our timing, and just let the training take over. To share the top of the podium with Dyma was unreal. It also gave me a real sense of how far I’ve come in just six months, and what I’m now capable of delivering on snow.” ~Ashton X Salwan

Beyond the synchronized event, Ashton also competed in two individual Europa Cup competitions over the weekend, placing 19th on Day 1 and improving to 12th on Day 2. These were his first official snow events of the 2024/25 season, and with each jump, he shook off the early-season nerves and settled into competition mode. The steady climb in results reflected his growing confidence — and capped off 2024 on a high note, both personally and professionally. It was a weekend that not only brought medals, but momentum.