Veteran surfer, tow-in pioneer Buzzy Kerbox releases autobiography

“Making Waves”
by Buzzy Kerbox
Watermark Publishing, $39.95

A popular assumption is that tow-in surfing — the barrier-breaking technique that opened the door to riding waves previously considered too big — was born at Peahi, the Maui deep-water break also known as Jaws.

That’s one of many misconceptions about surf history that tow-in pioneer Buzzy Kerbox said he set out to correct in “Making Waves,” his new autobiography.

“The first tow-in sessions were in 1992 on the North Shore (of Oahu), at the outer reef breaks at Phantoms and Backyards,” said the former Hawaii pro surfer, 63, ranked several times in the world Top 10.

“Darrick Doerner, Laird Hamilton and I were flat-water freeboarding (behind a motor boat) when we looked at the quality of the waves out there and (decided) to take my Zodiac and try to tow ourselves onto them.”

The Kailua High School grad added that he also wrote his book to motivate people to “stay active and keep busy, even as they get older.”

In the last chapter, the longtime stand-up paddleboarder recounts competing solo in the Molokai Channel race at age 60.

The photogenic Kerbox, a Ralph Lauren model for 40 years, will sign copies of his photo-packed book (Legacy Isle, $39.95) at 6 p.m. Friday at Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center; a portion of proceeds will be donated to Love the Sea, a Maui nonprofit that removes plastics from the shoreline and ocean.