Eddie's life is torn apart by the accusation of statutory rape from the overprotective father of a lonely teenager trying to make friends lied to a group of other teenage girls about her encounter with Eddie. Mitch deals with the anger of a paraplegic former lifeguard.

Mitch receives news of his uncle's death. He recruits Hobie, Eddie and Shauni to trek to northern California's rugged gold country where he learns his uncle may have found the golden boot. Eddie and Shauni are having problems in their relationship when Eddie is accepted into a year-long lifeguard exchange program in Australia.

Drew shoots at the raft. Shauni is taken hostage, and pushed off the cliff. After Eddie and Mitch save her, she finds out that she's not pregnant. Eddie proposes to her. Mitch climbs down with the help of a rope and finds the golden boot; Jed arrives at the trailer. Eddie marries Shauni and they move to Australia.

A woman from Mitch's past becomes one of his fellow lifeguards and stirs up memories for Mitch; Matt must contend with surfers wanting to take over part of the beach.