Sports photos of the week for December 29, 2009

This week Big Shots dips into chilly waters in both England and China, and sets sail in Australia for the Sydney Hobart yacht race. Then it's on to dune racing in Saudi Arabia and snowboarding in Colorado. There's more, of course, as the year draws to a close and I prepare the last installment of the 100 Best Sports Photos of 2009, which I'll post on Thursday. ( 21 photos total)

Patrick Deneen celebrates after finishing his final run to win first place in the Freestyle Mogul US Olympic Trials December 23 in Steamboat Springs, Colo. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

The many moods of 'Sheed: Pictured at several recent home games, the Boston Celtics' volatile Rasheed Wallace isn't shy about expressing himself. (All Jim Davis/Globe Staff, except lower left Barry Chin/Globe Staff) #

The San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan looks to pass during an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks December 26 in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) #

A New Orleans Saints fan parties during the Saints' NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the Superdome in New Orleans December 27. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) #

A swimmer takes a glass of brandy after a dip in the Serpentine River on Christmas Day in Hyde Park in central London. For over 100 years swimmers have taken part in the Christmas Day "Peter Pan" swim in the Serpentine. (REUTERS/Andrew Winning) #

A swimmer navigates a partially ice-covered pond in Changzhi, China December 22. (REUTERS/Stringer) #

FC Barcelona's Bojan Krkic wears a Santa Claus hat as he dives with a manta ray at the Aquarium in Barcelona December 23. (AP Photo/David Ramos) #

The New York Giants' Kevin Dockery (left) tackles the Washington Redskins' Santana Moss during an NFL football game December 21 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari) #

A kneeboarding reindeer joined elves, a snowman, and Santa for a water-skiing show on the Potomac River at National Harbor in Prince George's County, Md. December 24. #

Esther Good competes during the FIS World Cup giant slalom in Lienz, Austria December 28. (JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images) #

A kayaker paddles on the Sora River in Medvode, Slovenia December 26 after heavy rain caused flooding in west and central Slovenia. (REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic) #

Competitors set sail during the start of the 65th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race December 26 in Sydney. A fleet of 100 boats are competing in the 628 nautical mile race to Hobart in Tasmania. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) #

Snowboarders race down the track during the finals of the FIS Snowboardcross World Cup 2010 December 19 in Telluride, Colo. (Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) #

Racers take a flight of hurdles in The Williamhill.com - Blackjack Juvenile Novices' Hurdle Run at Kempton Park December 27 in Sunbury, England. (Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images) #

A skater takes practice shots on a frozen lake in Whistler, Canada December 27. (REUTERS/Finbarr O'Reilly) #

Steam rises off the face of the Seattle Seahawks' Brandon Mebane during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers December 27 in Green Bay. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching) #

Spectators watch the first International Sand Festival at Qaseem, Saudi Arabia December 26. More than 34 riders representing various Gulf states particpated in the festival, a car race held to attract more tourists to the desert. (REUTERS/Fahad Shadeed) #

The Detroit Red Wings' Valtteri Filppula (right) and the Columbus Blue Jackets' Samuel Pahlsson race to the puck during their NHL hockey game at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit December 26. (AP Photo/Detroit News/David Guralnick) #

Kansas State's Martavious Irving puts a shot up under pressure from Arkansas-Pine Bluff's Tyree Glass during an NCAA college basketball game December 21 in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) #

The referee counts out Mohamed Belkacem of Switzerland after he was hit by defending champion Magomed Aripgadjiev of Belarus during the European Light Heavyweight Championship EE-EU fight at the Boxing Day in Bern, Switzerland December 26. (AP Photo/Keystone/Peter Klaunzer) #

Members of a winter swimming club form a 2010 sign in the snow on the bank of the Yenisei River as they celebrate the coming of the new year in Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk December 27. (REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin) #