Come join Cody (Shia LaBeouf), a Rockhopper penguin, as he journeys from his home in Shiverpool, Antarctica, to take part in the Big Z Memorial Surf-Off on the beach of Pen Gu Island. During his adventure he meets some new friends, including surf nut Chicken Joe (Jon Heder) and the spirited lifeguard Lani (Zooey Deschanel).

Cody believes that winning is everything until he meets The Geek (Jeff Bridges), and old washed-up pro-surfer, who may just show Cody that a true winner isn't always the one who comes in first.