See It in Action — Video Feature Below
PERSPECTIVE EARNED, RESPONSIBILITY ACCEPTED
Freestyle aerials is a sport that demands courage long before it delivers confidence. For Ashton Salwan, that reality has never been abstract. He remembers what it felt like to stand at the top of a ramp unsure of how his body would respond, unsure whether fear or focus would take over. Those early moments — when reassurance mattered as much as technique — stayed with him.
As his career has progressed, something shifted. Results accumulated. Experience deepened. And quietly, Ashton found himself in a new position — one where younger athletes were watching, listening, and looking for cues not just on how to jump, but on how to handle the moment.
LEADING FROM THE LANDING HILL
Leadership in aerials isn’t assigned. It’s earned through repetition, setbacks, and survival in a sport where margins are thin and confidence can disappear in an instant. Ashton understands that the most meaningful guidance doesn’t come from instruction alone. It comes from presence.
When younger athletes approach him, his message is simple and grounded:
You’re good. Bring some fun. Stay calm. Stop thinking so hard.
It’s not about telling them what trick to throw or how to score points. It’s about reminding them that fear is part of the process — and that it doesn’t have to control it.
“I know how scary this sport can be when you’re learning. If I can help someone feel a little calmer out there, that’s important to me.” ~Ashton Salwan
THE POWER OF REASSURANCE
Aerial skiing can be intimidating, especially on the come-up. Athletes are still learning how their bodies move through space, how pressure affects decision-making, and how to trust themselves at speed and height. Ashton knows that uncertainty well.
That’s why giving back, for him, looks less like formal mentorship and more like shared understanding. A quick word before a jump. A calm presence nearby. A reminder that progress is rarely linear — and that everyone starts somewhere.
Those moments matter. Often more than people realize.
CARRYING THE SPORT FORWARD
Ashton doesn’t see himself as separate from the next generation — he sees continuity. The same sport that shaped him now relies on athletes who feel supported enough to stay in it, grow through it, and eventually lead it themselves.
Giving back isn’t a side project. It’s a responsibility that comes with experience. One he embraces quietly, consistently, and without expectation.
Because at its core, freestyle aerials isn’t just about what happens in the air — it’s about who’s there to steady you when you come back down.