HIGH FLYING: Catching Up with Aerialist Dylan Ferguson

While he hasn't been wearing his U.S. Ski Team uniform for long, aerialist Dylan Ferguson isn't wasting any time trying to flip straight to the top. The 19-year-old Massachusetts native began skiing competitively 11 years ago at Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, under the watchful eye of freestyle coach, Nick Preston. While Dylan admits that he was terrified of aerials as a 10-year-old, he seems to have outgrown his fear and is making his presence known as a talented young gun on the U.S. Aerials Team. Dylan finished the 2007-08 season with a silver medal at the Junior World Championships and ranked third in the overall NorAm standings. Now that he is one of "the big guys," Dylan is spending his summer training, coaching, and filming in Utah and Whistler to prepare for the upcoming season. Keep an eye out for him on the World Cup circuit and watch for his segment in this season's 4bi9 movie, Slamina, featuring a slew of Park City locals playing in the park and beyond the ropes.

POWDER: What surprised you most when you became a part of the U.S. Ski Team?
DF: When I first started the sport I thought that being on the [U.S.] Team was the coolest thing ever. With aerialists like Eric Bergoust, Joe Pack, and Brian Currutt, it seemed like a huge deal. Now that I am on the team, it made me realize that I am one of the big guys. It makes me feel good. Everyone on the team is awesome; it is just a group of skiers having a good time.

POWDER: What has been your favorite aspect of being on the national team?
DF: Getting to travel the world all winter long!

POWDER: The aerials team is tight-knit group. How do you balance friendship with competition?
DF: We try not to be too competitive with one another. Everyone on the team is friends so we just try to encourage each other to do awesome.

POWDER: You recently returned from Whistler. What were you doing there?
DF: I went to Freestyle America, a ski camp owned by Nick Preston. As a kid I went there as a camper, but this year I went as a coach. Being a coach was such a different experience.

POWDER: I also heard you were doing some filming. Who were you shooting for? Do you see more movies in your future?
DF: I have been filming with a company based out of Salt Lake City called 4bi9 media for the past two years. I enjoy filming a lot; it's a different side of skiing than competing. I plan to keep filming with 4bi9 for the next few years to see if I can really push the sport of skiing.