BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT:Easy rider

When he was only 18 years old, Costa Mesa resident Ryan Brennan became a professional BMX rider.

After he stopped competing professionally in about 2003, the Newport Harbor High School alumni began performing in shows, but three years ago knew he had to take the next step in his career.

“I had a choice of finding a real job and working 9-to-5, or working in the BMX industry or just working for myself,” said the 28-year-old Brennan, sitting on his red-handled bike. “So I built a box-jump, it took me two months of constantly working in L.A., and I started booking shows with schools and it just started to grow.”

These days, Brennan travels all over Southern California with BMX Bike Show, putting on shows with other riders for every kind of event from birthday and company parties to events sponsored by other cities.

But gigs at parties aren’t the only way Brennan maintains his visibility. BMX Bike Show also does promotional shows for the X-Games and has played halftime shows for professional sports teams, including the Sacramento Kings.

But Brennan’s real passion for his business comes when he plays at schools or functions where kids get to watch as he and the other riders do flips, stalls and jumps. With the stunts, he brings a wider mission.

“We push positive messages — we promote staying drug-free and [we] tell them that me and these guys succeeded by making the right decisions, we didn’t cloud our minds with drugs,” Brennan said. “It does make a difference, it’s been an effective program I think, and if I can affect just one kid, that makes it all worthwhile.”

His other big push is helmet safety. Brennan and the other riders, including team manager and performer Ricky Vigil, 28, consider themselves role models. Brennan hopes that “kids trying to be cool” will see the riders with helmets on and follow suit.

“I explain I’ve hit my head and the only reason I’m still here and with it is because the helmet saved my life,” Brennan said.

His business is his passion and Brennan said he just feels lucky to be able to continue to ride, emcee the shows and build his company.

Southern California isn’t his only sphere of operation. Brennan also has a team of riders based in Pennsylvania that can travel all over the country to perform.

The shows start at about $600 and go up depending on the number of riders, shows and ramps he tows to the event. A typical show runs about 40 minutes and include anywhere from three to six riders doing tricks on a large quarter pipe, box jump and others.

He plans on continuing reinvesting in his business, hiring more riders and building more ramps.

Vigil said he’s glad to be working with Brennan, performing and taking care of the team.

“We love it,” he said, standing with Brennan on the corner of Orange and Del Mar avenues in front of the BMX Bike Show ramps.

For more information on Brennan’s operation, visit www.bmxbikeshow.com.