Paul Sampson started surfing at the age of 9, spending his days at the beach in his hometown of Muizenberg, south of Cape Town, South Africa. Sampson quickly progressed the more he competed in local competitions and started climbing up the ranks with support from community members who identified the youngster's potential. Sampson, fondly known as 'Chow' amongst his peers, honed his incredible aerial antics in the small, onshore conditions of the beach breaks at home. This skill makes him a very dangerous competitor in all kinds of waves, and led to him winning his first-ever WSL Qualifying Series, the Cape Town Surf Pro in 2024. With another solid result at the SA Open of Surfing in Gqeberha, Sampson qualified for the Challenger Series. His goal is to represent South Africa as a black African surfer on the world stage, inspiring young kids back home to never give up on their dreams.