A series of 60-second videos celebrate city sights and sounds, from a night of bikeracing to a day at the beach to practicing Parkour. (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) View

In Johannesburg, being a member of an openly lesbian soccer team can mean risking your life. (NYT) View

Customized bicycles in Oakland, California, called 'scraper bikes,' are the teenager's version of a lowrider car. (California is a Place) View

In the ultimate conflation of brains and brawn, players alternately exchange punches and chess pieces at a gym in Hollywood. (LAT) View

Alvin Stamper defends his four-time tobacco-chopping title in Kentucky, cutting and spearing nearly 1,500 stalks per hour. By hand. (POYi winner) View

The Best Videojournalism Stories of 2009 ... Celebrating excellence in video, journalism and storytelling. View

The sport of Course Landaise, France's answer to bullfighting, combines leaping, spinning and smarter bovines. (Time) View

A freak accident left paddleboarder Jeff Denholm with a prosthetic arm, but that didn't stop him from competing in a 32-mile race for the sport's unofficial world championship. View

Two Texas towns are so small that their high schools play six-man football. But their historic rivalry is one of the biggest in the state. (Austin American-Statesman) View

Attention ice skaters! Please stop skating now and exit the rink ... A journalist is operating the Zamboni! (NYT) View

From all walks of life, Florida retirees have more fun playing ice hockey than you can shake a shtick at. (AARP) View

Extreme martial artist Mindy Kelly pits her contortionist dexterity against one of modern technology's best laser-beam security systems. (National Geographic) View