Life Of Ryan › Season 1 › Ep. 107

‘Business and Pleasure Don't Mix’

Skateboarder Ryan Sheckler needs to win the next and final competition on the five-city Action Sports Dew Tour in order to take first place, as he has in years past. But he's worried that the ongoing drama with his father will affect his performa...  Full Episode Summary

Skateboarder Ryan Sheckler needs to win the next and final competition on the five-city Action Sports Dew Tour in order to take first place, as he has in years past. But he's worried that the ongoing drama with his father will affect his performance.

When Ryan visits his dad, Randy, to talk about how he felt abandoned at the X-Games and that he needs constructive criticism, not drama, to win the gold on the Dew Tour, Randy is less than apologetic. But both of them think they can put

the drama behind them and move on.

Meanwhile, Ryan and his friend Casey have been doing a little brainstorming in an attempt to help Casey find a job and learn the business of skateboarding. Casey and Ryan have been friends for a long time, so the boys come up with a plan for Casey to work as Ryan's assistant. Ryan and Casey present their idea to Ryan's mom and manager, Gretchen, who is concerned about the impact this arrangement might have on their friendship. She suggests a trial run during Ryan's upcoming trip to Portland, Ore., for the Dew Tour.

Arriving in Portland, Ryan eases his nerves by calling his dad to make sure he's still coming to the competition. With Randy still on board, Ryan feels like nothing can stand in his way of another first place finish.

At the same time, Casey gets his first taste of what he's gotten himself into as Gretchen gives him a rundown of what he's responsible for as Ryan's new assistant. As Ryan practices mastering his routine for the Dew Tour competition, Gretchen gives Casey his first task -- he must fill out a questionnaire for Ryan. But Casey, not knowing his boundaries as an assistant, interrupts Ryan while he's practicing to ask him a question. It's obvious that Casey doesn't understand what it means to be an assistant.

On the morning of the finals, Ryan, Casey, Taylor and Tony all meet to have breakfast. Ryan realizes he left his skateboard in his room and asks Casey to retrieve it for him. This request starts a heated debate between Ryan and Casey about what an assistant is and isn't supposed to do. When he doesn't get his way, Casey storms off in a huff and blows off Ryan's autograph signing. Obviously, the assistant duties Casey has been assigned are not quite what he had in mind.

During the competition, Ryan is riding high until a fall sends him tumbling to the ground. Landing on his elbow, he thinks he broke it, but with Randy cheering him on, Ryan finishes his run in style. Unfortunately, the fall proves to be Ryan's downfall in the finals, and he finishes second, ending his dream of winning first place again.

At the hotel, Randy tries to give Ryan the pep talk he needs but Ryan is just too upset to be receptive to his father's words. Randy's efforts only seem to anger Ryan even more. Later, Ryan visits his father at his office and they finally hash out their communication problems. Randy tells Ryan that he isn't going to be like everyone else and just give Ryan praise. Randy wants to be the realist that keeps Ryan grounded, and Ryan finally seems to understand the wisdom his father has been trying to instill in him.

After heading home, Ryan and his parents go to the doctor to get his elbow examined and the diagnosis isn't good. Ryan has seriously injured his arm and it needs to be put in a cast. But that's not all that needs mending. Ryan breaks the bad news to Casey that he's fired. Ryan doesn't want to jeopardize their friendship, and they both admit they had different ideas about what an assistant's duties are. In the end, the boys realize their friendship is more important than the job.