Pierre surfing La Grav 94 Shot by his long time friend Bernard Testemale.
Tributes are flowing in for Pierre Agnes. He loved his surfing and the water being equally at home on boards and boats, from competing in the 80’s to fishing out of his home town of Caprebton.
His passion for surfing started his career in the surf industry where he began at the bottom and ended up right at the top. He was a sales rep for Rip Curl, before joining Quiksilver under Harry Hodge. A lot of international surfers first met him as French Quiksilver team manager and through the Quiksilver training camps. Pierre always looked after his surfing family in Quik from young frothing Britsh groms right up to the World Champs. Passionate about his sport and brands core history he was a driving force in keeping Quiksilver true to surfing when mainstream accountants and ‘brand experts’ were trying to wreak havoc. As a result he ended up CEO. He had he surfers respect, he had his co workers respect, and he had the surf industries respect.
Thoughts are with the family, the Hossegor and Quiksilver crew, and surfers across the globe who’s lives he played a huge part in.
Still in shock can’t believe my friend has gone , Thank you Pierre for all your support over 35 years with Quiksilver . You were the European team manager back in the 80’s when we met. Even though I screwed up a few times, you still supported me to this day.
Spencer Hargraves
Sad news, top bloke, we surfed many heats together in the 80s
Paul Russell
Gunther Rohn Devastated! Pierre was one of the ‘boys’ when I first came to France to work in ‘88. We had some good times. Sincere condolences to all the family! RIP Pierre.😢
James Jones So sad, a great guy who helped me as a grom 😔❤️ RIP
When you think of flogging beer, Slater is the last person who would spring to mind as an advocate of the sauce. But it appears even those whose bodies are temples like to chuck the off bottle of Michelob down. Check out the GOAT as he joins Chris Pratt, Brooks Koepka, and Shalane Flanagan as they sing “I Like Beer” in Michelob ULTRA’s Super Bowl LII commercial.
Local Taghazout photographer Ayoub Abouizza just released a new edit of his last road trip with some pro surfers including Tiago Pires and Kanoa Igarashi…
Boardmasters has today revealed its second wave of acts set to perform in 2018, including Main Stage headliners Catfish and the Bottlemen and George Ezra. At Watergate Bay’s sunrise this morning, Boardmasters unveiled 29 epic acts who will join previously announced headliners The Chemical Brothers for Cornwall’s own surf and music festival, taking place this year from Wednesday 8 – Sunday 12 August. With everything from alt-rock, grime, house, electropop, singer-songwriters and much more, Boardmasters is set to return bigger and better than ever to the stunning Cornish coastline for another huge year of surf and music. Tickets are on sale NOW via the website.
Indie rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen are a musical tour de force. The platinum-selling Welsh quartet, fronted by energetic lead vocalist Van McCann, have been hailed by NME as “one of the best live bands in the game”, and as they take to the Boardmasters Main Stage on Friday 10 August on their return to Watergate Bay, festivalgoers can expect an electrifying set filled with early hits like ‘Cocoon’ and ‘Kathleen’, as well as cuts from their number one sophomore album ‘The Ride’.
Since bursting on to the scene with his multi-platinum debut album ‘Wanted on Voyage’ in 2014, George Ezra has continually stunned audiences with his distinctively soulful voice and jubilant live shows. The multi-platinum singer-songwriter behind chilled-out hits ‘Budapest’, ‘Blame It On Me’, ‘Don’t Matter Now’, and recent anthemic release ‘Paradise’, will close the Main Stage with his warm vocals as the sun sets on Watergate Bay on Sunday 12 August.
In 2016, after a six-year hiatus, grime veteran Kano released his critically-lauded album ‘Made In The Manor’ and headlined Boardmasters Unleashed stage with one of the most talked about performances of the festival weekend. This year, with a UK festival exclusive, Kano will be returning to the sun-drenched coast with what’s sure to be another electrifying set featuring fan favourites ‘3 Wheel-ups’, ‘GarageSkankFREESTYLE’ and ‘P’s and Q’s’.
Electro-dance trio Years & Years conquered 2015 with their number one debut album ‘Communion’ which earned them four prestigious BRIT Award nominations, and now Olly Alexander, Mikey Goldsworthy and Emre Türkmen are gearing up for their massive return. The ‘King’ and ‘Shine’ hitmakers, known for their exuberant performances, will bring a splash of colour to the weekend’s festivities.
With a number one album that has gone on to sell millions worldwide, soulful sensation Rag'n'Bone Man was the sound of the summer and Boardmasters is stoked to announce his return to this year’s festival. Rory Graham, better known as Rag’n’Bone Man, has had unprecedented success since releasing global smash ‘Human’ in 2016: follow-up singles ‘Skin’ and ‘Grace’ are instant classics and have made Graham one of the most-heard voices on the radio. He’s also bagged two BRIT Awards and is nominated in this year’s category for British Male Solo Artist.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, even more acts have been added to the fantastic Boardmasters bill today, including two of the biggest indie rock bands to emerge from Britain over the past few years: Friendly Fires, who have promised big things in 2018 after a five-year hiatus, and Everything Everything, who unleashed their fantastic fourth record to huge praise in summer 2017. On the verge of releasing her eagerly anticipated second album ‘Someone Out There’, Rae Morris will provide the feel-good vibes as she hits the stage to perform latest electropop bangers ‘Do It’ and ‘Atletico’.
Also announced are hotly tipped pop star and the UK’s go-to songwriter RAYE, indie alt-folk trio Wildwood Kin, the ‘rising voice of London's disaffected underclass’ Hak Baker, the UK's premier blues rock trio Wille & The Bandits, Australian surf pop duo Hockey Dad, rising UK R&B Singer Bobii Lewis and Kelli-Leigh, who is best known as the voice behind two number 1 UK singles: ‘I Got U’ by Duke Dumont and ‘I Wanna Feel’ by Second City.
Watergate Bay will also play host to an incredible line-up of superstar DJs from around the globe this summer. MK, responsible for hits like ‘Piece Of Me’ featuring Becky Hill and recent top ten crowd-puller ‘17’, will be spinning the best house, techno, hip hop and R&B tunes. Also announced is drum and bass and jungle music specialist Shy FX Soundsystem, and BBC Radio 1’s Danny Howard.
Claptone, Steve Lawler, Skream, Fred V & Grafix, Audio Bullys, Riton with Kah-Lo, Holy Goof, Or:La, Kideko and Cakeboy complete the latest batch of announced acts for a unique festival experience in the most epic setting the UK has to offer.
Inspired by the freedom, adventure and creativity of surfing and music, Boardmasters was born in 1981. Expect parties that run late into the night and a beautiful beach to recuperate on during the day. The 5-day event is situated across two stunning locations in Cornwall - the surfing mecca of the UK, Fistral Beach, where world class International Surf Competitions take place, and arguably the most stunning location in the country to watch live music, Watergate Bay. Last year the surf and music festival welcomed over 150,000 festival goers to sunny Cornwall. Book your ticketshere now!
BOARDMASTERS 2018
Headliners
Catfish and the Bottlemen / The Chemical Brothers / George Ezra
Joined by
Kano / Rag ‘N’ Bone Man / Years & Years / MK / Annie Mac / Craig David Presents TS5 / Everything Everything / Friendly Fires / RAYE / Wildwood Kin / Fat Freddy’s Drop / The Horrors / Declan Mckenna / The Amazons / Shy FX Soundsystem / Claptone / Steve Lawler / Bicep DJ Set / Skream / Danny Howard / Denis Sulta / Rae Morris / Fred V & Grafix Live / Tom Walker / Audio Bullys / Hak Baker / Sam Fender / Riton w Kah-Lo / Wille & The Bandits / Holy Goof / Or:La / Kideko / Kelli-Leigh / HAAI / Hockey Dad / Bobii Lewis and Cakeboy
Plus many more acts still to be announced
Ticket Information:
Watergate Bay tickets on sale NOW
Boardmasters operates a tiered ticket system with price bands for tickets changing over time. Book tickets now to guarantee the best price!
All tickets on sale now (Charger ticket includes bus pass, parking, VIP camping, Beach Session gigs, After Parties, Boardmasters t-shirt and tote bag)
Click herefor tickets and info for 2018’s Boardmasters festival of music and surfing in Cornwall
Update
French authorities have suspended the search launched yesterday morning around 2:30 pm today Wednesday 31.
Thoughts are with the family, friends and those who worked closely with Pierre over many years at Quiksilver HQ and as team riders.
“At 14:35, after consultation with the director of the CROSS Etel, the maritime prefect of the Atlantic decided to suspend research at sea by directed means” was announced in a statement.
>>>>>>>>
Pierre Agnes CEO of Quiksilver has been declared lost at sea and huge search has been launched. The 54-year old waterman headed from Capbreton harbour in his boat at around 7:30 am (0630 GMT) as he would have done many times but the boat washed up later at Hossegor.
Pierre had radioed in to the harbour master to say he was postponing his return due to bad fog. But at 9.30am his empty boat was found washed up on the beach at La Graviere. A full search and rescue operation is ongoing.
Agnes, a great surfer and fisherman, knows the area and waves really well and would have done the trip thousands of times so everyone is somewhat stunned. He has been with Quiksilver 30 years. He became CEO in 2015.
Surf photographer Tim Nunn witnessed the scene as the surf was pumping:
“Literally just got out of water, everyone at La Graviere was looking for him in between sets. Five helicopters in the air, six boats, four jetskis, a boat washed up on the beach, so heavy ….”
Two kids had a close brush with two magnificent Orcas at Enclosure Bay in NZ yesterday.
Video by Shane Watt the killer whales head straight for them and hen swim either side.
Mr Watt said
“The kids were obviously very, very frightened. We were terrified just watching. It took us a minute to calm down afterwards so I can’t imagine what the adrenaline would’ve been like for them.”
