What does Chaz Ortiz have in common with Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, Derek Jeter and Dwyane Wade? They're all ad pitchmen for Gatorade. Except, skateboarder Chaz Ortiz might better described as a pitchkid rather than a pitchman. He turns 15 years old until May 4, and yet he's already a veteran pro.

Chaz Ortiz doesn't come from one of those sunny skateboarding havens in southern California or in Florida. He hails from Chicago, where people know "the Hawk" not as Tony Hawk, but as the bitter winter wind that screeches from Lake Michigan. This means the weather often is not suited to skating, but that hasn't stopped Chaz.

When he was 6-years-old, Chaz Ortiz begged his father for a skateboard. It was a classic case of ask and you shall receive. And with his birthday in early May, Chaz had an entire Windy City skate season ahead of him. Chaz Ortiz immediately started practicing tricks, day and night, and he got better and better. Two summers ago, he competed on the Free Flow Tour, which is the premier amateur tour. He not only dazzled the crowds and the judges, but he actually won the season championship at the age of 13.

In June 2008, Chaz's first pro contest was the AST Dew Tour's Panasonic Open in Baltimore.
He placed third behind superstars Ryan Shecker and Paul Rodriquez. In September, he captured the Toyota Challenge in Salt Lake City in front of 26,000 fans and he went on to capture the season championship.

Despite his youth, Chaz is known for riding in a smooth style that goes beyond his years. Ryan Sheckler commented, "He deserves everything he has coming to him. I think that Chaz has the potential to be the next 'it' skater. He has the attitude of a champion, he skates like a champion; he skates like he wants to learn how to do everything that's going on in the skateboard world."

Chaz Ortiz says, "Just skate hard, skate your best, and don't get yourself down. Just go out there and skate how you know how to skate, make sure you have your run planned, and just have fun."

SOURCES:
http://www.kidzworld.com/article/14592-chaz-ortiz-biography
http://skateboardermag.com/skateboarder-news-features/news/chaz-ortiz-on-gatorade/
http://www.grindtv.com/athlete/Chaz_Ortiz/2627/bio/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaz_Ortiz

Pro surfer Kelly Slater, who won his ninth world title in 2008, is often described as "the Michael Jordan of surfing." This is not just a simple comparison. The comparison goes far beyond both being known as the all-time bests in their respective sports.

Kelly Slater and Michael Jordan both took breaks in the middle of their careers and then surprised fans when they returned at even higher levels of excellence. But in the comeback department, Slater has been even more amazing than Jordan. The time gap for Michael Jordan was less than two years. For Kelly Slater, it was five years.

Both Kelly Slater and Michael Jordan coped, at mid-career, with the loss of their fathers. James Jordan was murdered in 1993, and Steve Slater died of cancer in 2002.

Another common factor is that Michael Jordan (2-17-63) and Kelly Slater (2-11-72) both are Aquarians, for what that may or may not be worth.

Despite the nine-year age difference, they became champions only one year apart. Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls won the first of their six championships in 1991, when Jordan was 28. Kelly Slater captured the first of his nine titles during 1992, when Slater was a mere 20.

Jordan "retired" after winning his third consecutive NBA (National Basketball Association) title in 1993. Slater stopped competing after he captured his sixth crown, including five in a row, in 1998.

Jordan's absence ended when he rejoined the Chicago Bulls near the end of the 1995 season. The Bulls were defeated that year, as Jordan fought to rediscover his game, but they won another three in a row in 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Slater came back for the 2003 season of the ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) but barely lost the season championship to Andy Irons. He says his frustration with the defeat caused him to slump during 2004, but he won championships in 2005 and 2006, and again in 2008. Slater says he remains undecided regarding the 2009 season, but competitors such as 2007 champ Mick Fanning have encouraged him to stay on tour.

Michael Jordan adjusted during his comeback career by shooting more jump shots, rather than driving so often for dazzling dunks. Kelly Slater has shifted to a smaller board, more than a foot shorter than his foes.

Kelly Slater says that 2008 was his best season ever. The surfer once was a mate of celebrities such as Pamela Anderson and Cameron Diaz, but he keeps private the name of his current significant other.

Kelly Slater explains: "It's probably my personal life. That's the biggest change in my life. I'm happy and settled, and I've got the support there that just feels amazing."

Sources:
http://www.aspworldtour.com/2008/news_show.asp?rEvent=aspwct&rcode=11547
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1860698,00.html?xid=rss-nation
http://surfermag.com/features/onlineexclusives/slater05/index1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Slater