Paul Gross started mat surfing as a youngster in 1960, and his passion for the sport continues to this day! He began on the classic rubber-ended rental rafts, graduated to the high-end Hodgman Converse mats at age 13, and has been designing, building and riding nylon 4th Gear Flyers since 1984.

Paul has made each and every 4GF mat by hand. A craftsman in the surfboard industry since 1969, he has shaped over 1000 surfboards, and built over 1000 mats. Undoubtedly, he is the only person in the world who can make that claim!