Big Shots for February 9, 2010

After a compelling Super Bowl, it might seem as if the sports world has come to a stop to catch its breath. But outside "Who Dat?" nation virtually every sport besides American football is going strong. Witness ice canoe races in Montreal, snow polo in Slovakia, and even pro bicycle racing in Doha. A note to regular readers: I'll be on vacation just as the 2010 Winter Olympics start, so those waiting for a Big Shots post from Vancouver will have to wait a little longer than expected. I'll be back the week of February 22 and plan an Olympics wrapup then. ( 30 photos total)

Teams struggle through the icy waters of the St. Lawrence River during the Quebec Winter Carnival ice canoe race February 7 in Quebec. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press/Jacques Boissinot)

Spain's BC Barcelona players, including NBA lottery pick Ricky Rubio (third from left), react after their Euroleague Top 16 basketball match against Partizan Belgrade in Belgrade February 3. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) #

Real Madrid's Kaka celebrates with Sergio Ramos after scoring against Espanyol during their Spanish League football match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid February 6. (PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP/Getty Images) #

Are the stars out tonight? Chael Sonnen and Nate Marquardt don't care if it's cloudy or bright, 'cause they only have eyes for each other during their romantic grapple of a mixed martial arts middleweight bout February 6 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken) #

Puerto Rico's Indios de Mayaguez player Miguel Abreu is tagged out at second base by the Dominican Republic's Escogido player Ramon Santiago during their game at the Caribbean Series in Margarita Island, Venezuela February 5. (REUTERS/Jorge Silva) #

Suszannah Warner (right) tags Park Ji-hyun during the straw-weight world title match of the International Female Boxers Association in Mungyeong, South Korea February 6. (REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won) #

Friends play pond hockey with their dog on Stump Pond in Westborough, MA January 15. (Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff) #

Safety workers chase after a cat on the track prior to the start of the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway February 6 in Daytona Beach. (John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR) #

A rider falls on the sand during the Enduropale motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet, France February 7. About 1000 motorbikes and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. (Pascal Rossignol/Reuters) #

Aris Thessaloniki's Toni Calvo (top) is tackled by Panthrakikos' Anestis Argyriou during a match in Thessaloniki, Greece February 6. The match was called off at the start of the second half after rain rendered the pitch too soggy. (AP Photo/Nikolas Giakoumidis) #

The Vancouver Canucks' Darcy Hordichuk (left) takes a shot on Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask during their NHL hockey game in Boston February 6. (REUTERS/Gretchen Ertl) #

FC Porto's Radamel Falcao celebrates after scoring against Naval in a Portuguese League soccer match at Porto's Dragao Stadium in Porto February 7. (AP Photo/Paulo Duarte) #

Kurt Busch hits the grass after losing control on the front straight during the Budweiser Shootout at Daytona International Speedway February 6 in Daytona Beach. (Nick Laham/Getty Images) #

Riders and horses compete during the Grand Prix Handels und Gewerbeverein St. Moritz on the frozen lake on the first weekend of the White Turf races in St. Moritz, Switzerland February 7. (AP Photo/Keystone, Arno Balzarini) #

Dogs pull a sled using traditional harnesses February 4 in Iqaluit, Canada. (AP Photo/Rob Gillies) #

People skate behind the frozen Lipno Dam on the Vltava River near Frymburk, Czech Republic January 23. (MICHAL CIZEK/AFP/Getty Images) #

The peloton passes a chemical factory during the third stage of the Tour of Qatar women's cycling race from Sealine Beach Resort to Doha Corniche in Doha February 5. (REUTERS/Jacky Naegelen) #

This rotated picture shows reflected skaters on the roof of the Ice Plaza in Robson Square in downtown Vancouver ahead of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. (DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP/Getty Images) #

A rainbow shines bright over the Daytona International Speedway Cup garage in Daytona Beach after an afternoon of rain canceled Daytona 500 auto race practice at the track February 5. (AP Photo/Daytona Beach News-Journal/Nigel Cook) #

Kim Yu-Na of South Korea is silhouetted on the ice during the exhibition at the ISU Grand Prix Final figure skating in Tokyo December 6. (TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images) #

Smoke sails over United States Olympic luge team member Mark Grimmette during testing of a new racing suit to be used for the upcoming Vancouver Winter Olympics at the San Diego Air and Space Museum wind tunnel February 3 in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) #

Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick lets a shot by the Anaheim Ducks' Jason Blake get by him during their NHL hockey game February 4 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) #

Mongolian sumo grand champion Asashoryu announces his retirement at the Kokugikan sports arena in Tokyo February 4 following a drunken rampage in which he punched a Tokyo man and broke his nose. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) #

Fitness model Kevin Stadler hits a tee shot on the second hole during the third round of the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club February 6 in Pacific Palisades, Calif. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images) #

Players vie for the ball during a snow polo tournament in Slovakia's High Tatra mountain resort Strbske Pleso February. (JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images) #

Germany's Michael Neumayer soars through the air during the individual Large Hill individual Ski Jumping World Cup competition in Willingen, Germany February 6. (REUTERS/Johannes Eisele) #

Crew members of the US challenger Oracle sail the giant trimaran February 7 during an America's Cup training session off Spain's Valencian coast. (PEDRO ARMESTRE/AFP/Getty Images) #

A runner climbs stairs in the "Gherkin" building in London during a charity race up 38 floors (1037 stairs) February 7. (BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) #

A street performer entertains the crowd on Granville Street in Vancouver as preparations for the 2010 Olympics continue February 3. (AP Photo/Odd Andersen) #

A truck in a snow-carrying convoy makes its way along Highway 1 leading up to Cypress Mountain outside Vancouver February 3. An unseasonably warm, rainy month has left the Olympic snowboarding venue with bare slopes. (AP Photo/John Derese) #

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Big Shots for February 9, 2010