The film begins with a historical overview, starting at its Hawaiian beginnings, then moves on to focus on the dangerous lure of big wave surfing. The documentary chronicles the evolution of riding at Hawaii's Waimea Bay in the 1950s, the revolution of lighter boards and tow-in surfing. The film documents the exploits of three surfers: * Greg Noll, a pioneer big wave rider from the 1950s and 60s, * Jeff Clark, who surfed Mavericks long before it was famous, and * Laird Hamilton, whose tow-in surfing is legendary.