See It in Action — Video Feature Below
2025/26 Rookie Season is ON
After years spent chasing progression across hemispheres, Ashton Salwan has officially been named to the 2025/26 Stifel U.S. Freestyle Aerials Ski Team, marking the start of his first full rookie season representing Team USA on the FIS World Cup circuit.
What began as a nomination in May 2025 — a signal of potential — has now become a place on the roster. This milestone transforms a long-held dream into a professional responsibility: showing up, delivering, and earning it every day.
From Nomination to Roster
The “rookie” label might sound small, but in the world of freestyle aerials, it’s earned. It reflects years of repetition, refinement, and resilience — not luck, not shortcuts.
For Ashton, this moment has been more than a decade in the making. His story began far from the mountains — flipping off docks and backyard trampolines in Ohio — long before anyone imagined he’d be wearing the U.S. crest. From the Mont Chalet water ramp that shaped his earliest jumps, to Park City where he honed his takeoff technique, to the Jumpin’ facility in Switzerland that expanded his aerial awareness, and later to Australia where he refined his triples — each chapter built toward this moment.
The 2024/25 season, he introduced himself as a contender, landing career-best jumps on the World Cup stage and finishing the year ranked among the top tier of international aerial skiers. This season, he’s no longer arriving as a hopeful. He’s earned his place. The rookie chapter is officially underway.
Built by the Grind
Ashton’s path has never been a straight one, but his drive has always been unlimited — proof that progress is built from persistence. Each season, he found ways to outwork circumstance and create opportunity. His competitive campaign read like a highlight reel of growth and grit:
- A fearless World Cup debut on the triple jump in Lake Placid, where he distinguished himself within a deep international field.
- A Deer Valley performance under the lights that drew both fan energy and national attention — validation that an independent path was paying off.
- Consistent results across the NorAm Cup and Europa Cup circuits, where he accumulated points, experience, and competitive confidence across North America and Europe.
- And finally, an emotional solo finale — one athlete, one set of skis, and a clear intention to finish the season on his own terms.
The summer that followed wasn’t downtime — it was reconstruction. Ashton spent months at the Utah Olympic Park and the Center of Excellence in Park City rebuilding strength and precision with the U.S. Team’s elite coaching staff, before completing a focused training block at the Sleeman Sports Complex in Brisbane, Australia, under Coach Matt Saunders. Every movement was examined. Every landing refined.
Every takeoff, every water landing, every rep in the gym became fuel. When the official roster was finalized, the work spoke for itself.
What's On the Horizon
Now an official member of the U.S. Freestyle Aerials Ski Team, Ashton enters his first full season of international starts alongside a roster that includes Olympic medalists, World Cup veterans, and emerging talent. His rookie chapter spans competitions across Europe, Asia, and North America — each venue presenting its own variables, pressures, and lessons.
"Dreams don’t end when you make the Team; the climb only gets steeper."
~ Ashton Salwan
Those who’ve followed his journey know that pressure is where Ashton sharpens. Years spent competing without guarantees — without insulation — forged an athlete comfortable adapting, recalibrating, and delivering when margins are tight.
This season will test everything he’s built: technical precision, composure under lights, and the belief that he belongs at this level. The objective is clear — not simply to hold a roster spot, but to contribute meaningfully and continue earning his place among the world’s best.
Gratitude & Grounding
Behind every ascent is a foundation — mentors, coaches, and supporters who invested long before results followed. Ashton credits those who shaped his journey:
- Bill Harris, whose early coaching at Mont Chalet laid the groundwork for discipline and fundamentals
- Matt Saunders, whose precision-driven methods refined Ashton’s triple-jump execution
- Enver Ablaev, whose influence helped recalibrate confidence and competitive belief
- U.S. Team coaches Stanislav Kravchuk and Vladimir Lebedev, whose recent guidance accelerated readiness for the World Cup Tour
And, of course, the partners who keep the mission alive — Garage Finisher, Liquid Force, Woolly Bear Outerwear, and Magna Hydration — along with the friends and family who continue to stand behind the pursuit.
Published: Oct/15/2025
⚠️ Compliance Note: The sponsors listed above are Ashton Salwan’s personal partners. These partnerships are independent and not affiliated with, nor do they represent, the official sponsors of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, Team USA, or the U.S. Ski Team.