In May 2024, Ashton Salwan made a pivotal decision that would forever alter the course of his rising freestyle aerials career: he left the familiar comforts of home for a bold, solo venture into the heartlands of Switzerland — where cows outnumber cars and world-class aerialists ride the alpine breeze. His destination was the storied Jumpin’ Freestyle Company in Mettmenstetten, a global hub for elite aerial training.
Switzerland Changed Everything
Nestled within a working Swiss agricultural school just a short bus ride from the Jumpin' water ramp facility, Ashton’s new three-month residence offered a cozy dorm room, overlooked rolling emerald pastures, and served up hearty meals that fueled long days of flight. His daily rhythm quickly settled into one of relentless effort and steady progress — early wakeups, focused ramp sessions, countless water landings, and strength circuits designed to test both endurance and resolve. Every part of the routine was earned. And every challenge, embraced.
Rewarding in So Many Ways
That summer brought more than just technical refinement. It sparked personal transformation.
“Switzerland changed everything. It was the first time I stepped out fully on my own — new country, new team, new routine. I came in hoping to level up my skills, but I left with something bigger: confidence built through the people around me.” ~Ashton Salwan
Ashton gained real independence, a sharper mental edge, and — most importantly — a spot among some of the sport’s most formidable international athletes. Together, they built an environment rooted in excellence, discipline, and mutual respect.
The summer squad read like a global all-star list, blending Olympic veterans and next-gen talent in every session:
- UKRAINE: Dmytro Kotovskyi, Anhelina Brykina, Maksym Kuznietsov, Oksana Yatsiuk, Oleksandr Okipniuk, Diana Yablonska, Volodymyr Kushnir, Yan Havriuk and Zakhar Maksymchuk
- GERMANY: Emma Weiss
- SWITZERLAND: Nicolas Gygax, Noe Roth and Pirmin Werner
Lessons Learned, Friendships Forever
Together, this international team of professionals forged a vibrant training culture — one where every flip was fine-tuned, every mistake became a lesson, and every breakthrough was celebrated.
This was more than skill-building. It was immersion. Mentorship from elite coaches. Camaraderie between competitors. And daily reminders of how much Ashton was capable of — not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.
The summer crescendoed with Ashton’s debut at the FIS Swiss Freestyle Aerials Masters, a premier water ramp competition gathering some of the world’s best. Amid a cascade of rain, backed by cheers from his summer teammates and coaches, Ashton soared — not just to stick the landing, but to stake a claim on what comes next.
Living the Dream
From the quiet stillness of rural Swiss life to the electrifying intensity of the Jumpin’ water ramps, the summer of 2024 became a defining chapter in Ashton Salwan’s journey. Switzerland proved to be more than just a scenic setting — it was a launchpad for personal growth, technical precision, and the realization that bold leaps, on and off the ramp, are what turn dreams into something real.
