I spoke with Quiksilver Executive Chairman Bob McKnight this morning because I wanted to talk to him more about the departure of Kelly Slater.
I gathered over the years that Bob and Kelly were close, and that apart from business, there must be a whole emotional side of the situation for Bob.
“We are very, very close and we will always be good friends,” Bob said. “He is part of my family, I’m close to his mom and his brothers, and he is close to my wife and my kids.”
I asked Bob for some of his favorite memories of Kelly during his 23-year relationship with Quiksilver.
“Some of my favorite memories of being with Kelly is just experiencing his whole personality, his passion and spirit. He is very, very competitive. I consider myself pretty competitive and he makes me look like nothing,” Bob said.
The two often duke it out on the golf course, where Kelly is a scratch to 2-handicap golfer. Bob said Kelly is mostly self-taught and learned by watching videos online.
“We usually bet one share of Quiksilver stock, and we just have a good time trash talking each other the whole way,” Bob said. “Not only is he the best surfer in the world, but he’s a really good golfer. And so, so competitive!”
Another favorite memory is during Kelly’s quest for his 10th world title in Puerto Rico. In the middle of the contest, there were four or five days with no surf. Kelly, Bob, and a group of guys including Kelly’s agent Terry Hardy, Pierre Agnes and Craig Stevenson of Quiksilver, media personality Sal Masekela, surfer Freddy Patacchia drove up and down the coast surfing, heckling each other, laughing and getting invited into locals homes for rice and fish.
“Those special moments away from everything and just hanging out are some of my best memories,” Bob said.
Sweet sorrow
I asked Bob if this parting is hard for him.
‘It’s very hard, very emotional, very sad,” he said.
Quiksilver knew it was a possibility a year ago when Kelly said he wanted to start his own brand – something high-end, contemporary and fashion oriented, and fully sustainable.
Kelly is very fit and healthy, Bob said, and watches everything he eats – even makes his own almond milk and cooks for himself, and practices yoga.
He wanted to create a brand where he would know where every component was sourced, and that was sustainable in every way, from the fuel used to transport the goods to the boxes the clothes are shipped in.
The two sides had tried to work something out so that even though Kelly would start his own brand, he could still use Quiksilver boardshorts and wetsuits during competition.
But that didn’t work out because he ultimately partnered with Kering, which owns Volcom, and Kering didn’t want him to be involved with a competitor, Bob said.
Kelly’s desire to do his own thing, and to be committed to the sustainable path is commendable, Bob said, and Quiksilver understands.
“Knowing Kelly, I am sure it will be successful,” Bob said. “I told him to remember I’m a size large.”
Bob said Kelly is like a son, and the parting is reminiscent of a son leaving home to go to college and start a new life.
Bob said it was hard to see Kelly compete in this week’s contest without a Quiksilver sticker on his board. And Bob cried a little yesterday while watching a tribute video “See you in the lineup” that Quiksilver put together for Kelly.
“Our whole company feels like they’ve been on a great journey with Kelly, and that the positive friendship and sense of family will continue forever,” Bob said. “I’m sure there will be more rounds of golf and more dinners in our future.”
