Teenage Rockhopper penguin Cody Maverick is an up-and-coming surfer who is about to enter his first pro competition. Followed by a documentary crew to film his experiences, Cody leaves Antarctica for the warmer climes in order to surf in the Big Z Memorial Surf Championship covered by the SPEN network. His hero, champion surfer Big Z, has been gone for ten years, and Cody wants to win the championship in his memory. On his journey he encounters surfer-dude Chicken Joe who is also on his way to the surf-off. The two arrive to discover that the reigning champ, Tank Evans is currently looking to win this Memorial again.
