For eight years, Team Pearson has defended the smoosh race title
Team Pearson is defensive of their smoosh race title, and for good reason.
For eight years, members of the dynamic Pearson clan have fastened their shoes to a pair of two-by-fours and dominated the popular Icebox Days event and they have yet to lose.
Saturday added another notch in the win belt for the brother team of Levi Pearson, Mike Pearson, Teddy Pearson and brother-in-law, Luke Davis, as they left Team Canada in the dust.
“Saturday was a good race,” Levi said. “It was cold, but we had fun.”
Memories were fogged as to the original motivation for forming a smoosh race team, but the brothers agree they did it to see if they could beat other teams involved.
“We entered to beat someone,” Levi said. “I think it was the hospital team.”
Smoosh racing has quickly become an annual family get together. About 30 Pearsons, including “Bailer,” the family dog donning a Team Pearson T-shirt, lined up Saturday along Main Street to cheer on their team.
“We always get involved with each other’s activities,” Teddy said.
Teddy’s twin brother, Tony, was on the original 2003 team, unfortunately, an injured back left him unable to race three years ago.
“I got into it after Tony hurt his back,” Teddy said.
Davis is the only racer who has been involved in all eight races. Illnesses and other obligations have caused the others to switch around with significant others, but Davis has stuck it out. The unique competition of the smoosh races is what triggered his interest, he said.
“We were watching other teams practice and bragging about how fast they were,” Davis remembered. “We quieted them down.”
“Luke is my biggest motivation because he has been there all eight years,” Teddy said.
The brothers claim they don’t have a specific technique when it comes to smoosh racing, but deep down strategy exists.
“We’re all close to the same height,” Levi said. “I think that helps.”
Placement plays a factor in making a good smoosh race team as well.
“The back guy and the front guy are the ones who are steering,” Teddy explained. “If we fall, it is because of them. Levi is our navigator and Luke is our V8 motor — he is our power. Mike and I are the weakest links.”
“Yeah, we decided as a team to put the two weakest guys in the middle,” Levi added with a laugh.
Proving that like any family, the Pearson brothers make it a point to give each other a hard time, Davis jokingly added, “the two in the middle don’t really matter — they could be anybody.”
The only Pearson brother who has never been part of the team is the youngest — Jordan. However, that didn’t stop him this year. Along with Tony’s wife, Jacie, Michelle Hebner and Rob Lucca the team faced off against Team Pearson Saturday and lost by a narrow margin.
“If they would have had a little more time to prepare, it would have been close,” Teddy said.
Davis claims the closest competition came a few years ago when Team Viagra, a team of four out-of-town friends, entered the race.
“They came close to beating us, but they blew a shoe prematurely,” he said.
Mike disagrees.
“We’re still looking for our biggest competition.”
“I want to put out a bounty next year to see if a team can beat my brothers,” Jordan said with a laugh.
While it’s hard to believe, Team Pearson doesn’t put much time into practicing before they race. According to Levi, the first few years they spent some time practicing a few days prior, but this year, they strapped on their shoes only 10 minutes before they were slated to race.
The brothers agree that racing together makes the experience all the more special.
“I think it brings our family closer together,” Teddy explained. “We are all very competitive.”
Levi added, “It’s wonderful family fun for Icebox Days.”
Aside from family fun, Team Pearson has a title.
“We can’t quit now,” Levi said. “I don’t know how it would feel to lose.”
“I wasn’t feeling too great on Saturday and I thought about skipping it until I realized we have to defend our title,” Mike said.
“Defending our title is the reason I keep doing it,” Teddy added.
Davis summed it up, “If we lose, we’ll never live it down.”
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