Mitchell Goosen,16, is a Californian surfer and skateboarder. His parents, two zoologists, received a grant to work in Australia. The only issue was that Mitchell couldn't join them. So he's sent to live with his aunt, uncle, and cousin in Cincinnati. Wiley is his new roommate for the next six months and he greets him at the airport. Afterwards, Mitchell goes to high school and annoys the hockey guys. The guys torment Mitchell and Wiley for weeks. A competition along Devil's Backbone requires the big boys, Mitchell, and Wiley to work together.