Airborne

Mitchell Goosen leaves California with his zoologist parents to join them for six months of grant work in Australia, but a brutal winter storm reroutes him to Cincinnati. He moves in with his aunt and uncle to finish the remainder of his high school semester, and quickly realizes the city and school are a far cry from his beach-loving lifestyle. The cold, unfamiliar rhythms of Cincinnati set the tone for his culture shock.

On his first day at Cincinnati High School, he is taunted by gritty hockey players who scoff at his Maharishi philosophy and sun-bleached California look. The players—Jack, Augie, Snake, Rosenblat, and the Banduccis—make it clear he does not belong. The clash foreshadows the season’s rivalry with the rival preps.

During a recent practice, Mitchell and Wiley fill in for two punished students and accidentally score a goal for the preps, angering the hockey team. The miscue cements the players’ disdain for him, especially Jack, who starts to see him as an obstacle to the group. Mitchell’s standing within the team is immediately undermined.

During a game, Jack charges onto the ice and tackles Mitchell, leaving him concussed and unconscious for what seems like hours. The brutal hit deepens the rift between Mitchell and the hockey clique and tests his resolve. He wakes with a renewed determination to prove himself on his own terms.

Over the following weeks, the harassment intensifies as Mitchell endures relentless taunts and shoves from the hockey crew. He begins to feel isolated in a city far from the surf he loves, and he dreams of peacefully confronting the problem rather than escalating it. The dream signals a turning point rather than a surrender.

Amid the turmoil, Mitchell discovers Nikki, a girl at school, and falls for her. The budding romance gives him hope, even as he navigates the complex social circle around Jack’s friends. It becomes a counterbalance to the hostility he faces daily.

On a double date with Wiley and Nikki's friend Gloria, Blane confronts Mitchell physically, escalating the tension. Jack arrives to stand up for Nikki, who is revealed to be Jack’s sister, adding another layer to the relationships. The confrontation forces Mitchell to reckon with the politics of the group.

Following a dream about facing the situation head-on, Mitchell joins Jack and his hockey brethren for a street hockey game against the preps. The informal match gives him a chance to prove himself beyond the classroom and the locker room. He steps into leadership through skill and restraint rather than aggression.

Mitchell’s performance during the street game shames Blane, triggering a rethink among Blane’s teammates. The others begin to see him as a potential ally rather than an outsider. The team’s shift marks a turning point in the high school's social pecking order.

Encouraged by their new dynamic, Snake, Augie, and the Banduccis recruit Mitchell to help them win a rollerblading race down a dangerous city street route called Devil’s Backbone against the preps. Mitchell’s elite skating skills become a key asset in the plan. The stakes rise as the race tests nerve and teamwork.

The race is set as a relay-style competition: the first team to three finishers wins. Snake finishes first for Mitchell’s team, with two preps still in reach behind him. The momentum shifts as the final legs approach.

With Blane closing the distance, he barrels into Mitchell at the end of the course, but ends up plunging into the water instead. Jack and Mitchell race toward the finish line in tandem, their teamwork sealing a hard-fought victory. The crowd erupts in cheers as their rivals slump behind them.

Mitchell finally earns the respect of Jack and his circle and is lifted on the shoulders of a cheering crowd. The new status earns him acceptance and a sense of belonging he hadn’t felt since arriving. He has proven that courage and skill can win over hostility.