However, seeing as I’m now his coach, it’s onmeto smooth things over.
Understandably, Vox is standoffish this morning.
His teammates have naturally broken off into a pair and a group of three, and I watch as one of the women, Angel, I believe, approaches Vox and throws a thumb over her shoulder, clearly inviting him to join them.
Vox says something with a small smile and shakes his head. Angel returns to the group of three alone while Vox sits down on a bench and begins strapping into his board. Everyone else is still waiting for instructions when Vox takes off for the lift by himself.
“Always has to be first, that one,” Grey says, coming tostand beside me. He chuckles to play it off, but I can tell he’s concerned about Vox. I can read it in the strain of his voice. “How’d introductions go yesterday?”
I sigh. “We’ll need a redo,” I tell the man honestly. Grey justhmphslike my answer doesn’t surprise him.
“He’s a tough one to get close to, but once you do, he’s fiercely loyal,” he finally says.
“I don’t have to get close to him. I just need him to listen to me,” I point out.
“We both know he isn’t going to take instruction from someone he doesn’t respect,” Grey argues, causing me to turn and pin him with a stare.
“Why’d you bring me out here if he’s a lost cause?”
“He isn’t a lost cause, but the stakes are getting higher, and he’s getting older…and even more independent. I needed someone who already had a foot in the door with him.”
“And you think that person is me?” I ask incredulously.
“Vox watched you board for years, Connor. He’d probably kill me for telling you this, but he demanded I let him compete on a Vertigo board in all his junior events because that’s what you rode.”
There’s no way for me to cover my shock over learning this information. Vertigo was Patterson Performance’s number one competitor back then. Now, a few other brands have hit the market and are giving him a run for his money, but Vertigo was the original competition.
“And you allowed that?” I ask as calmly as I can, trying to name whatever this emotion is clogging my throat.
Grey laughs. “Kid wouldn’t take no for an answer. Told me he’d race on a Vertigo board or he wouldn’t race at all. Vox knows how to get what he wants. But so do I. And what I want is him racing for me. He respects me, but I still wouldn’t say we’re friends. Love him like he’s my own, though. I’m tellingyou, that face could charm the pants off anything, but the thorns underneath are sharp.”
Well, fuck.
This conversation has done nothing to make me feel better about this season, and the clock is winding down. With no Winter Olympics this year, all eyes are going to be focused on the Winter Classic Games. We have three months to show the world that Vox and this team are the best.
“What other competitions are the team signed up for this season?” I ask as we make our way toward the snowmobiles. The only way to get to the wooden observation deck built into the slope is to either ski or snowboard there, or take a snowmobile…and since I currently can’t strap into a board without having a panic attack, I lied and told Grey I’m nursing an injury that requires the use of a snowmobile.
“The other athletes are free to choose which events they compete in as long as none are within three weeks of the Winter Classic.”
That sounds fair.
“Which ones will Vox and Renner be competing in? I assume I’ll be traveling with them?” I clarify.
“Renner is doing a competition in Utah around Christmas. Angel is also going to that one, but Montoya already agreed to go.”
“And Vox?”
Grey keeps his eyes forward and clears his throat nervously as he answers. “Vox isn’t competing in anything other than the Winter Classic this season.”
I stop walking because that’s just crazy. Snowboarders compete on a circuit with at least four or five stops. That’s his chance to earn money for the year, gain exposure, pick up additional sponsors, etc.
“What?Why?”
“Because I need his focus to be on the Games,” Grey answers simply.
“I mean, of course, but that really limits him, don’t you think? Don’t his other sponsors require his participation in additional events?” I ask, not understanding Grey’s logic. Vox is the biggest name in boarding right now. Surely his other sponsors require his attention to give their brands visibility.
“Vox doesn’t have other sponsors. Patterson is it for him. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to hop on a call with my development team.”
