Kelly Slater was a teen phenom, and now he's a 36-year-old Zen master, poised to win his ninth ASP World Title this week at the Billabong Pro in Mundaka, Spain. His nearest rival, Mark Richards of Australia, won four. Slater's first world title came in 1992, when President George H.W. Bush was being challenged by Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton. Lance Armstrong, take note: This is Slater's third world title since returning from a three-year retirement in 2004.

Aussie Stephanie Gilmore, the 20-year-old 2007 ASP Women's World Champion and No. 1 on the 2008 ASP Women's World Tour, has a big lead going into the Oct. 9-14 Beachley Classic at Sydney's Northern Beaches, an event she has won the past two seasons. A win will tighten her lock on the overall championship with two events remaining.

The PlayStation Pro event Oct. 16-19 in Orlando is the last chance for would-be champions to make moves.

•Skate-Park: MTV reality show star and teen heartthrob Ryan Sheckler has the lead with 338 points, but budding park superstar Chaz Ortiz is at 330, and actor Paul Rodriguez Jr. is at 323. The Dew Tour winner should get an Oscar and an Emmy to go with his Dew Cup.

•Skate-Vert: Baltimore's Bucky Lasek leads with 325 points, but Brazil's Bob Burnquist is five points behind, and perennial contender Andy MacDonald is close at 310.

•BMX-Park: Daniel Dhers has 400 points and a 100-point edge over Mike Spinner.

•BMX-Dirt: This one is tight, with Cameron White at 303, Luke Parslow at 279 and Corey Bohan at 278.

•FMX: Adam Jones (165) and Blake Williams (160) are nip-and-tuck. Should make for some daring tricks in the Orlando finale.

Enduro MX:

Manx rider David Knight, a two-time World Enduro motorcycle racing champion, claimed the 2008 U.S. Grand National Cross Country Championship on Sept. 29 at Unadilla GNCC in New Berlin, N.Y. The weekend's win, his seventh of the season, secured Knight's second consecutive U.S. title after winning the 11th round of the championship, his seventh of the season.

(USA Today)