Paul Van Doren grew up in Boston and had to leave school after 8th grade to work in his mother's shoe factory. He developed a passion for horses and began riding at racetracks. With his brother Jim, friend Gordon, and Belgian friend Serge, they formed the Van Doren Rubber Company in 1966. The company started as a partnership but later became a multinational corporation under new ownership. Paul's idea grew the company into a worldwide brand sponsoring skateboarding, surfing and other action sports events.