Florida's Kelly Slater could move a significant step closer to an unprecedented ninth world title next week.

Slater will be the top seed for the Boost Mobile Pro men's surfing contest at San Clemente, Calif. The contest will run Sunday through Sept. 13 at the Lower Trestles break.

The Boost Mobile Pro will be the seventh of 11 stops on the 2008 World Championship Tour. Slater has won four of the first six contests, and holds a commanding lead atop the ratings.

Although he cannot clinch the 2008 world title next week, Slater can put more distance between himself and the rest of the field with a strong showing.

"I know the numbers and possibilities roughly in my head," he said. "I would love to wrap this thing up at any point. But yes, Trestles would have been really nice."

Slater is assured of retaining the No. 1 ranking after the Boost Mobile Pro, regardless of how he does.

"A good result at Trestles could really set my momentum back up," he said. "A mess-up could really rattle and shake things up for me. I didn't think I'd be looking at it the way it is now though, so it's all fine from here on out."

Australia's Joel Parkinson is currently ranked No. 2, but he is more than 1,000 points behind Slater (5,620-4,548). Even with a strong showing at the Boost Mobile Pro, Parkinson would need Slater to fall in the early rounds to narrow the gap.

"The facts speak for themselves, Kelly is the form surfer this year and is rightfully well in front on the leader board," Parkinson said. "That doesn't mean I'm going to sit on my laurels and hand it to him."

Among the Hawai'i surfers, Andy Irons is at No. 7, Bruce Irons is No. 10, Fred Patacchia Jr. is No. 14, and Pancho Sullivan is No. 40.

AUSTRALIA'S GILMORE ATOP WOMEN'S TOUR

Stephanie Gilmore of Australia won the Rip Curl Pro Mademoiselle women's contest last week at Hossegor, France, and took over the No. 1 ranking on the women's tour.

Gilmore, who is the defending world champion, defeated fellow Australian Layne Beachley in the final.

The 2008 women's tour has completed three of eight events. The next contest is the Billabong Girls Pro Rio at Brazil, Sept. 10 to 18.

Among the Hawai'i surfers on the women's tour, Megan Abubo is ranked No. 10, and Melanie Bartels is No. 14.