White, Sheckler, and Dhers Take AST Titles

The 2007 AST Tour wrapped up in Orlando over the weekend, with Shaun White, Ryan Sheckler, and Daniel Dhers each walking away with coveted year-end titles. White and Sheckler had already sealed up the Skate Vert and Skate Park titles before the final round even took place, and Dhers took an authoritative win in Orlando in BMX Park to pick up his second AST title in a row.

All three athletes dominated their prelim rounds, much like they'd done throughout the tour. Shaun White could have taken it easy in Orlando, putting it on cruise control and taking year-end bragging rights no matter what place he ended up in, but he was there to win.

The finals didn't go exactly as he had planned, however. White had a great first run, posting up his usual high airs and spin tricks, some over the new chasm that was built into this stop's vert ramp. He was sitting in second behind Pierre-Luc Gagnon after round one, and he knew exactly what he had to do to get back into the first-place spot.

Unfortunately, he wiped out on a warm-up pass before his second run, falling back and taking a hard hit to the dome – hard enough to break his helmet. He was forced to sit out his next two runs, and was still recovering when the year-end awards ceremony went down later that night.

He may have missed out on accepting his award in front of the cameras, but no one will forget the performances he turned in on tour this year. White earned five podium finishes (three of them wins) and busted out some of the most electrifying vert runs of the year. He's a true champion, and left no doubt that he deserved the Skate Vert crown.

Ryan Sheckler has become an icon in skateboarding, both through his dominance on the AST Tour and the legions of fans he's picked up through his MTV show "Life of Ryan". He sealed up his third AST title in a row before even booking his tickets to Orlando, and was looking for his fourth win of the tour once he got there. He floated through prelims to take first, and advanced to the jam session portion of the finals in his customary first place spot.

The only victory to elude Sheckler on this year's tour was in Portland, where he took second to his good friend Greg Lutzka. It turned out to be a heated battle between the two skaters in Orlando, with each trading bangers throughout the jam sessions. In the end, Lutzka took his second win, with Sheckler close behind.

At the year-end awards ceremony, Sheckler claimed his title amid ear-shattering screams of delight from his horde of teenage female fans. He's been unstoppable for three years running, and it doesn't look like that's going to change for 2008.

Daniel Dhers led the overall point standings for BMX Park all season, but there was still a chance that his nemesis Mike Spinner could earn enough points with a win in Orlando to take a stab at the title. Dhers made that chance go from slim to none by coming into this contest hungrier than ever, ruling both prelims and finals with his typical unfailing consistency and insanely hard tricks.

Once he 360-whipped over a blind step-down and pulled a double whip 360 over the long driveway box, it was obvious he was untouchable. Dhers picked up his second AST title, and he's now more focused than ever, with his sights firmly set on the three-peat.

White, Sheckler, and Dhers didn't relinquish the spotlight once this season, and everyone else is going to be playing catch-up for years to come. Sheckler and Dhers are now basking in the glow of their 2007 performances, and White's waxing up his snowboard to continue his year-round domination. Look for him on the slopes – and the podium – this winter.