Emma, Fin, and Reef make it to Sunset Beach for the summer of their lives at Surfer's Paradise. When they arrive, they find the resort they are working at is a complete "Kooksville" resort, but they meet locals Broseph and Johnny. On their first day at the job, the groms must clean the resort after the owner's daughter, Lauren, throws a wild end-of-the-year school party.

The first day of work is always brutal, but the gang has it worse when Bummer is going to fire the person with the worst evaluation. After they finally get off work, Emma has to clean her clothes after it gets sprayed by a skunk, in addition to being stuck with a mean roommate, Martha McCartney who is fired at the end. Seeing how bad her first day is, Broseph teaches Emma how to surf.

The new employees get stuck with one of the worst things ever, their initiation. It's where the seniors, led by the snobbish Kelly, make them do humiliating things for the whole day. If the groms are able to endure the stuff, the seniors will take them to an secret section of the beach with the best waves, "The Office", which only a select few get to see.

The Hotel Management is anxious over the arrival of a Mr. Stanley Stevens—the well-known hotel reviewer. The groms are put through some difficult tasks in order to cater to his every whim. Meanwhile, El Duderino, the ultimate wave that hits once every 20 years, strikes Sunset Beach, which Reef and Broseph are determined to ride.

After receiving advice from Lo, Emma brings another surfer to "The Office" trying to make Ty jealous which accidentally reveals the secret location to other tourists. The groms become upset with her, so she devises a plan to make them leave. Meanwhile, Reef is stuck teaching a stubborn old man how to surf.