Derrick Cabrera, like all skateboarders, dreams of being sponsored one day. He has all the talent in the world to make it happen but some major roadblocks to overcome before he can make the dream a reality. He is receiving pressure from all sides, his parents are stressing him because he is failing in school, his girlfriend thinks he is a loser, his best friend has become his rival because he is better than him. Things come to a head after Derrick gets arrested and a fight ensues with his father resulting in him running away from home. He does the only thing he knows how to do and opts to follow his dream to the Tampa Am contest, one of the only ways an unknown skater can get noticed.