North Shore 1987

Action

Drama

Sport

Romance

Box Office

$3.8M

Runtime

96 min

Language

English

Directed by

William Phelps

Made by

Universal Pictures

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North Shore Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for North Shore (1987). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

Eighteen-year-old Rick Kane, Matt Adler, has just graduated from high school and uses his winnings from a wave-tank surfing contest in Arizona to fly to Hawaii for the summer before college, hoping to become a professional surfer. He plans to stay with a surfer he met in Arizona six months earlier, but discovers this friend is tending bar at a seedy gentlemen’s club.

At the bar Rick meets two pro surfers, Alex, Robbie Page, and Mark, Mark Occhilupo, and stays with them at the house of Lance Burkhart, Laird John Hamilton. In the morning, he goes out surfing with Alex and Mark and realizes that surfing in the ocean is totally different to surfing in a wave tank. He is not as good as he had initially thought. They end up at Sunset Beach and try to paddle out, not knowing how to duck dive; he struggles his way out to the line-up. During this scene he runs into Vince Moaloka, Gerry Lopez, leader of a local group named “The Hui” (“The Club”). This causes Vince to wipe out and leads to a confrontation where Rick is chased off the beach after his belongings are stolen by another Hui member.

With nowhere to go, he fortuitously runs into Turtle, John Philbin. Rick Kane also meets and falls in love with Kiani, Nia Peeples, a beautiful local girl who helps him acclimate to the local culture. Turtle introduces him to Chandler, Gregory Harrison, a surfboard shaper and soul surfer, who teaches Rick about soul surfing and Rick masters the art of appreciating and riding waves. During Rick’s stay, Chandler is marveled at Rick’s talent for art and Rick designs a new graphic for Chandler.

The film’s antagonist is Lance Burkhart, Laird John Hamilton, a famous, top-ranked surfer whose competitive and materialistic values (“Give me a Board that works. My Board”) conflict with the spiritual teachings of Chandler (“You still have a single-fin-mentality”).

Give me a Board that works. My Board

You still have a single-fin-mentality

The film climaxes with a surf contest on the Banzai Pipeline as Rick ends up competing against Lance in a duel of skills and beliefs. During the final round, Lance cheats by pulling on Rick’s leash, causing him to wipe out. Chandler, initially hostile towards competitive surfing, is outraged, but Rick reminds him that it wasn’t about winning, but going the distance.

As Rick prepares to leave for college in New York, he thanks Chandler for his friendship and lessons. While waiting for his flight, Rick is greeted by Turtle and Kiani. He shares a goodbye kiss with Kiani, and Turtle shows Rick a newspaper catching Lance in the act, who was disqualified. Rick promises to come back to the North Shore as he travels to NY where there is no surfing. This is a misnomer, as NY is on the Atlantic Ocean, and Soul Surfers from Rockaway have roamed the beaches for decades.

North Shore Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of North Shore (1987) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Graduation funds take Rick to Hawaii

Eighteen-year-old Rick Kane uses his winnings from a wave-tank surfing contest to fund a summer abroad. He leaves Arizona to fly to Hawaii, hoping to kick off a professional surfing career before starting college.

immediately after high school graduation Arizona

Arriving in Honolulu and meeting Alex & Mark

Rick lands in Honolulu and reconnects with two pro surfers, Alex and Mark. They invite him to stay at the home of Lance Burkhart while he gets his bearings on the North Shore.

first days of summer Honolulu, Hawaii

First morning surf reveals the ocean's differences

Rick surfs with Alex and Mark and discovers that ocean surfing is very different from training in a wave tank. He struggles with technique and persistence as he makes his way toward the lineup at Sunset Beach.

morning after arrival Sunset Beach, Hawaii

Paddling out at Sunset Beach and The Hui confrontation

While trying to paddle out at Sunset Beach, Rick disrupts the local group led by Vince Moaloka, triggering a confrontation. His belongings are stolen by a member of The Hui, and he is chased off the beach.

during the early outing Sunset Beach, Hawaii

Chance meeting with Turtle and romance with Kiani

Rick runs into Turtle and meets Kiani, Vince's cousin. He and Kiani fall in love, and she helps him acclimate to local culture and customs on the North Shore.

soon after North Shore, Hawaii

Chandler the shaper mentors Rick and sparks his art

Chandler, a surfboard shaper and soul surfer, introduces Rick to a more spiritual approach to riding waves. He is impressed by Rick's artistic talent, and they collaborate on a new graphic for Rick’s board.

during Rick's stay Chandler's workshop, North Shore

Tension between Lance’s competitive culture and Chandler’s teachings

The film's antagonist Lance Burkhart embodies a materialistic, win-at-all-costs mindset. His clash with Chandler’s soul-surfing philosophy creates a growing tension on the beach and in Rick's circle.

during Rick's stay North Shore, Hawaii

Rick embraces soul surfing and personal growth

Under Chandler’s guidance, Rick begins to master soul surfing, learning to ride waves with an emphasis on presence and appreciation rather than mere victory. He applies the lessons to his own style and mindset on the water.

during stay North Shore, Hawaii

Climax builds at the Banzai Pipeline

A prestigious surf contest at the Banzai Pipeline becomes the arena where Rick and Lance showdown. The duel tests both technical skill and their diverging beliefs about surfing.

climax Banzai Pipeline, Oahu

Lance cheats and Rick wipes out

In the final round, Lance cheats by pulling Rick’s leash, causing a wipeout that challenges Rick's resolve and spurs Chandler’s anger over the integrity of competition. The moment tests whether Rick will stay true to the sport's spirit or be drawn into winning at any cost.

final round Banzai Pipeline, Oahu

Cheating exposed and Rick’s perspective on surfing

Rick reminds Chandler that surfing is about going the distance, not merely winning. The moment reframes the contest as a test of character as well as skill.

after final round Pipeline, Oahu

Lance disqualified; Rick returns to life on the North Shore

Lance is disqualified for cheating, and Rick’s stance is vindicated. He thanks Chandler for his friendship, and prepares to leave for college in New York, bidding goodbye to Turtle and Kiani.

after contest, before departure North Shore/Hawaii

Farewell kiss and promise to return

Before departing for New York, Rick shares a goodbye kiss with Kiani as Turtle shows him a newspaper clipping about Lance’s disqualification. Rick promises to return to the North Shore.

departure moment North Shore, Hawaii

North Shore Characters

Explore all characters from North Shore (1987). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Rick Kane (Matt Adler)

An ambitious eighteen-year-old who travels from Arizona to Hawaii to pursue professional surfing. He learns that ocean mastery requires humility, patience, and listening to the ocean's rhythm. Rick’s initial confidence gives way to respect for the deeper culture and philosophy of surfing as he trains with local mentors.

🏄️ Prodigy 🌊 Learner 🧭 Seeker

Lance Burkhart (Laird Hamilton)

A top-ranked pro surfer whose materialism and competitive drive clash with the more spiritual approach to surfing. He embodies the risk of chasing fame and the pressure to perform, often bending rules to win. His rivalry with Rick catalyzes the climactic contest on the Pipeline.

🏆 Rival 💼 Showman 🏄‍♂️ Power player

Alex (Robbie Page)

A veteran pro surfer who mentors Rick through big-wave surfing and the contrast between tank surfing and ocean surfing. His friendship with Rick helps anchor his growth into the line-up’s social order.

🏄️ Mentor 🌊 Veteran 🗺️ Local guide

Mark (Mark Occhilupo)

A fellow pro peer whose natural skill challenges Rick and tests his determination. He represents the new generation of surfers who blend raw talent with a deep understanding of the water.

🏄️ Rival 🧭 Learner 🤝 Ally

Turtle (John Philbin)

A local surfer who befriends Rick and introduces him to local customs and the idea of soul surfing. He embodies the sense of community and practical wisdom that anchors Rick’s stay.

🏝️ Local 🧭 Guide 🐢 Calm presence

Kiani (Nia Peeples)

A local girl who becomes Rick's love interest and cultural bridge, helping him adapt to life on the North Shore. Her cousin Vince's ties to the Hui complicate her relationship with Rick.

💖 Love interest 🗺️ Local guide 🌀 Bridge-builder

Chandler (Gregory Harrison)

A surfboard shaper and soul surfer who inspires Rick to see surfing as a spiritual journey rather than a battle for points. His designs and philosophy shape Rick’s artistic and athletic growth.

🏄️ Mentor 🧠 Philosopher 🧩 Creator

Vince Moaloka (Gerry Lopez)

Leader of the local faction The Hui, whose turf protection and aggressive stance create conflict with Rick. His presence shows the darker side of local surfing politics and the stakes of belonging.

🎭 Antagonist 🛟 Local guide 🌀 Authority

North Shore Settings

Learn where and when North Shore (1987) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

1980s

The events unfold during a sun-soaked summer in the late 1980s, a period when surfing culture blended soulful roots with rising professional competition. The era's fashion, board designs, and tour-style contests echo the transition from tank surfing to big-wave, in-ocean performance. The setting uses warm light and casual attitude to frame the coming-of-age story.

Location

Honolulu, Hawaii, Sunset Beach, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, Banzai Pipeline

Set against Hawaii's famed coastline, the film follows Rick Kane's summer on the North Shore. The story moves through Honolulu and the iconic breaks of Sunset Beach and Pipeline, capturing the local surf culture and the tension between laid-back lifestyle and competitive drive. The North Shore's tight-knit community and brutal waves shape the characters' journeys and ambitions.

🏖️ Beach town 🗺️ Island culture 🏄️ Surfing hub

North Shore Themes

Discover the main themes in North Shore (1987). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

🏄️

Culture vs Competition

The film contrasts the carefree, spiritual approach to surfing with the material drive of professional competition. Rick learns that riding a wave is about rhythm, respect, and staying connected to the ocean, not just scoring points. Lance Burkhart embodies the win-at-all-cost mindset and the commercialization of the sport, testing the integrity of the surfers around him. The climactic Pipeline duel becomes a struggle between tradition and modernity in the sport.

🕊️

Soul Surfing

Chandler teaches Rick to ride with the ocean's rhythm rather than brute force, turning surfing into a meditative practice. The idea of soul surfing elevates technique into spiritual balance, trust, and patience. Rick's growth hinges on embracing this philosophy, affecting his choices and his performance on the waves. The film uses waves as a metaphor for inner peace and self-discovery.

🧭

Mentorship & Belonging

Rick finds mentorship in Turtle and Chandler, who anchor him in a new culture and code of conduct. The community around the North Shore shows loyalty, mentorship, and shared rituals that shape identity beyond talent. The relationships with Kiani and the locals give Rick a sense of belonging that goes beyond surfing success. The bonds built through guidance help him navigate conflict, competition, and personal growth.

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North Shore Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of North Shore (1987). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

The North Shore of Massachusetts is a world of salt‑kissed mornings, weather‑worn docks, and the steady rhythm of boats coming home with the tide. Generations of fishermen have built a tight‑knit tapestry of families whose lives are intertwined with the sea, its bounty, and the quiet pride of a community that has long defined itself by hard work and shared tradition. The landscape is both beautiful and demanding, where the roar of engines competes with the call of gulls, and the hush of evening brings a collective sigh as families gather around modest kitchens to count the day’s catch.

Looming over this familiar routine is a sudden economic shock that threatens to upend the fragile balance the townspeople have maintained for decades. Rumors of layoffs ripple through the harbor, turning optimism into anxiety and forcing the community to confront an uncertain future. Yet the challenges are not limited to livelihoods; personal stories surface as well—unexpected pregnancies, strained relationships, and the quiet hopes of younger generations seeking paths that may diverge from the coast. These layers add a poignant texture, revealing how tightly woven personal and professional lives become when a single industry holds a town together.

Against this backdrop, the film’s tone swings between gritty realism and understated hope. The cinematography captures the raw texture of weathered wood and choppy waters, while the dialogue carries the cadence of a region proud of its heritage yet wary of change. Characters move through their days with a blend of stoic perseverance and subtle vulnerability, inviting viewers to feel the weight of each decision without ever spelling out the outcome. The story promises a study of solidarity, where the strength of community is tested, yet the very act of confronting adversity becomes a quiet form of resistance.

In the midst of looming hardship, the North Shore’s residents discover that the ties that bind them—family, friendship, and a shared love of the sea—may prove more resilient than any economic tide. The film invites audiences to watch a community navigate the currents of uncertainty, holding onto the belief that even in the roughest waters, there are always reasons to stay anchored.

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