But the impact on his family and closest friends caused an equally big outpouring of love, support and empathy from the many who sent condolences and memories to his facebook memorial page, set up over the weekend following the 39 year old''s untimely death.
Pierre passed away on Friday, following what appears to have been a heart attack suffered while he was training at a gym swimming pool.
According to SA surfing magazine ZigZag:
"Pierre was an integral part of the Cape Town big wave scene and a member of the pioneering Kommetjie tow crew, along with Glen Bee and Nico Johnson, who first started towing at Sunset Reef with a rubber duckie, before shattering boundaries at Dungeons. "
On a personal note, I met Pierre and his family through his daughter and my son attending the same school. They asked me to take their family portraits two years in a row, the last time being in December of 2009. Pierre''s wife, Angie and their children Skye and Logan complete his beautiful family. It''s not often you meet a young couple with children who are so obviously still completely in love with each other.
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His children clearly adored their dad and he seemed to be one of those genuinely good, caring men, someone who lived life to the full but who doted on his family and no doubt put their needs first.
Pierre and I bumped into each other subsequently on Fish Hoek beach during the summer months that followed where he would always have a ready smile, and a kind word or time for a quick chat.
Reading through the comments online, Pierre''s life made an impact on people wherever he went - in the surfing community, at work and at the Kommetjie Community Church he attended - not only as a great surfer but also as a humble, strong, caring man. South Africa needs more of his kind.
Our deepest sympathy to Angie, Skye, Logan and all those who were close to him.
Details of his memorial service and subsequent ''paddle out'' can be found here.