Andy, an aging surfer, sits in polluted water and regales a group of men about two of the greatest surfers of all time; his cousin, Reef Yorpin, and Nick Raymond. Twenty years earlier, Nick Raymond quits his job at a surfboard shop so he can go to college, but decides to enter a surf contest, thinking he may take up professional surfing instead. His boss, Midas, advises him not to surf for money, but rather to live in “the moment.” Midas presents Nick with a surfboard that was used in the movie, Apocalypse Now and wishes him good luck. Meanwhile, Reef Yorpin, the leader of a surfer gang called the “Lawks,” is order by his mother to take his Midwesterner cousin, Andy, to a party. Before they leave, Reef shows Andy his surfboard, explaining the five notches in its surface represent every surfer he sent to the emergency room. Hearing his friends approaching, Reef shoves Andy into the bathroom. Reef’s sister, Allie, finds Andy eavesdropping on Reef and translates his surfer lingo, revealing that Reef’s friends have stolen a bag of marijuana from Reef’s mother. One of Reef’s friends, “Backwash,” asks if Allie is coming to the party, but Reef states she is too uptight. Backwash lingers behind with the girl, announcing that his father works in a missile silo. Allie takes Andy to the party, who says he is joining the Navy. On the beach, Andy spots a girl named “Gitch” Anderson and Backwash explains the name is a combination of “girl” and “bitch.” Elsewhere, Nick heads to the party with “The Vals,” a surfer gang of rich kids from the San Fernando Valley, and he and Allie introduces themselves. Reef hands his friend “Tripper” a red bag of marijuana and orders him to wait for him under the pier, but Tripper is distracted by the embrace of Allie’s friend, Donna, and the bag is washed away. When Tripper blames Nick for stealing the marijuana, Reef attacks the boy and a brawl ensues. Police arrive, and the teenagers run away, leaving Andy and Gitch to get arrested. The two spend the night in adjoining cells where Andy explains the art of “cow tipping.” Back at Reef’s house, he warns Allie to stay away from Nick, but she tells her brother to mind his own business. On the beach, Nick is warned by a friend not to pursue in Allie, as locals and kids from the San Fernando Valley do not mix. In the morning, Nick prepares to surf in a competition when he sees Allie. She mouths the word, “after,” and he nods in agreement. Nick wins his match, qualifying him for the finals. He is approached by Hap Jordon, a surfer legend, who offers to sponsor Nick if he wins the competition. Afterward, Allie takes Nick to see her painting of angels under the pier, and states that she wants to go to Paris to become an artist. Nick confesses he is torn between surfing and college, which begins in a week. In jail, Gitch convinces an older sergeant to release her and Andy, so she can compete in the surf competition, but she arrives to find that officials want to bar her from the contest. When she points out the rules do not discriminate against women, they are forced to back down. During the event, Reef wins his heat when Backwash slams into Marone, a “Val,” and breaks the boy’s arm with his board. As Reef notches his surfboard for another rival sent to the hospital, two of the “Vals” confront him, and he challenges them to a fight that night. While the loudspeaker announces that Gitch won her match. Hap Jordan offers to sponsor Reef, the same offer as he did Nick, promising to make him a professional if he wins the championship. Later, Nick asks Allie to a dance and they are surprised to find Gitch and Andy together. Nick’s buddies pull him aside and inform him about the fight. At the same time, Gitch tells Allie. When Nick meets his friends in an underground garage and tells them he is not fighting, Reef and “Lawks” appear, and a brawl ensues. Reef pulls a knife and slashes Nick’s chest, forcing him to attack. Allie appears in time to see Nick beating her brother’s head against a car. Tripper retaliates with a fire extinguisher, but Nick knocks him unconscious as Allie flees. Hearing sirens, both gangs drive away, but Andy and Gitch arrive late and are arrested. However, Gitch begs the police sergeant, who is revealed to be her father, to release them. After a night of surfing and soul searching, Nick shows up for the finals, only to find Reef and the “Lawks” waiting for him. However, Midas intimidates them with a plumber’s wrench, and Reef backs down. He threatens Nick, declaring he is unprotected in the water. Nick finds Allie and tells her he tried to stop the fight, but she rejects him. A horn signals that the start of the match. Nick does not move, undecided about his future. Midas hands Nick the Apocalypse Now surfboard. Nicks stares into his mentor’s eyes, nods and rushes into the ocean. The competition is fierce, and at the end of the day, only three surfers remain: Reef, Nick, and Gitch. On the final wave, Reef threatens Nick and jumps ahead, but Nick holds back. Reef thinks he has won, until Gitch shoots across his bow, causing him to fall. Andy meets Gitch on the beach, and the two kiss in the winners’ circle. Nick approaches Allie, who throws her arms around him and tells him he won. Nick finds Andy and gives him the famous surfboard, telling him to learn to surf. Twenty years later, Andy finishes his story, but the young surfers think he is making it up. Andy shrugs and surfs to the beach, where Gitch, now a policewoman, waits for him with their daughter. As he climbs out of the waves, he is holding the Apocalypse Now surfboard.