See It in Action — Video Feature Below
From nomination to roster — the 25/26 rookie season is on
After a summer 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 World Cup circuit.
What began as a nomination back in May — a promise of potential — has now become a place on the roster. This is the milestone that turns the dream into the job.
The Rookie Chapter Begins
The “rookie” label might sound small, but in the world of freestyle aerials, it’s sacred. It means you’ve earned your stripes — not by luck, but through years of carving form, height, and control into muscle memory.
For Ashton, this moment has been in motion for over a decade. 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 first real jumps, to Park City, where he mastered his takeoff technique, to the Jumpin’ facility in Switzerland that pushed his aerial awareness to new heights, and now Australia, where he refined his triples — every stop built the foundation for this moment.
Last season, he introduced himself to the world — landing career-best jumps on the World Cup stage and closing the year ranked among the top 25 aerial skiers worldwide. But this season, he’s not just earning starts; he’s earned his place. The rookie chapter has officially begun.
Built by the Grind
Ashton’s path has never followed a straight line. No full-time national program at the start. No shortcut to elite coaching. Just a relentless drive to outwork circumstance and create opportunity. His 2024–25 contest campaign read like a highlight reel of growth and grit:
- A fearless World Cup debut on the triple jump in Lake Placid, where he was the only U.S. athlete performing triples that weekend not already named to the Team.
- A Deer Valley performance under the lights that drew both fans and attention from national coaches — proof that his independent path was paying off.
- Solid results through the NorAm Cup and Europa Cup circuits, where he built ranking points and experience across North America and Europe.
- And finally, an emotional finale — just one athlete, one set of skis, and a mission to finish a solo season strong.
The summer that followed wasn’t downtime — it was reconstruction. Ashton spent months at the Utah Olympic Parkand the Center of Excellence in Park City, rebuilding strength and precision with the U.S. Team’s elite coaching staff, before heading to a full training block at the Sleeman Sports Complex in Brisbane, Australia, under Coach Saundo. Together, they dissected every movement, every twist, every landing — pushing toward perfect execution.
Every takeoff, every water landing, every rep in the gym was fuel. And when the official team roster dropped this fall, the work spoke for itself.
Eyes Forward: The Rookie Season Ahead
As an official athlete with the U.S. Freestyle Aerial Ski Team, Ashton now enters his first full season of international starts and joins a roster stacked with Olympic medalists, World Cup veterans, and rising stars. His rookie year will span Finland, China, Canada, and the United States, with every stop offering new challenges — variable weather, unfamiliar jumps, and elite-level pressure.
Dreams don’t end when you make the team; the climb only gets steeper. ~Ashton X Salwan
But those who’ve watched his climb know pressure is where Ashton thrives. He’s spent years performing without a safety net — no guaranteed support, no built-in comfort zone. That independence forged a competitor who knows how to adapt, persist, and deliver when it matters most.
This winter will test everything he’s built: his technical precision, his composure under lights, and his belief that he belongs among the best in the world. The goal is simple — not just to make the roster, but to make an impact. Each competition is another chance to solidify his spot in Team USA’s future and push one step closer on the road to Milano-Cortina 2026.
Gratitude & Grounding
Behind every ascent is a foundation — a network of mentors, coaches, and supporters who invested in the climb long before it paid off. Ashton credits those who shaped his journey:
- Bill Harris, the coach who saw potential early at Mont Chalet and taught him discipline
- Matt Saunders, whose precision-driven methods refined Ashton’s triple-jump technique
- Enver Ablaev, the legend who helped rewire Ashton's confidence
- U.S. Team coaches Stanislav Kravchuk and Vladimir Lebedev, whose recent guidance has accelerated Ashton's readiness for the World Cup stage
And, of course, Ashton’s personal partners who keep the mission alive — Garage Finisher, Liquid Force, Woolly Bear Outerwear, and Magna Hydration — along with all the friends and family standing behind his pursuit of excellence.
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.