At Home With … Buzzy Kerbox

Longtime Ralph Lauren model and pro surfer Buzzy Kerbox on how he’s keeping busy in Hawaii

If you’re anything like us, you’ve been checking in on friends a lot more regularly than usual—not to mention doing a lot more of, well, pretty much everything one does when they’re stuck at home. With both of those things in mind, in this series we’re dropping in on a few of our friends to see how they’re holding up—what they’re watching, reading, eating, drinking, feeling, and more.

Up next, legendary pro surfer and one of the most iconic Ralph Lauren models throughout the ’80s and beyond (he most recently starred with his three sons in the Polo Family Campaign), Buzzy Kerbox. With the book tour for his recently released autobiography, Making Waves (Legacy Isle Publishing), on hold, Kerbox is embracing the simple joys in life—gardening, exercising, and epic puzzle-making marathons among them.

Here, he lets us in on how he and his wife, Barbara, have been staying optimistic and spending their days while house-bound on Oahu.

Where are you right now? What’s your current view?

I am hunkered down with my wife, Barbara, on the North Shore of Oahu at our house.

It’s a crazy time that we’re in right now—what are you doing to stay optimistic?

I have been watching this mess engulf the world. I try to stay informed as to the latest happenings. I see a long road ahead, but most Americans are doing a great job to slow the spread and then we can start putting our lives back in motion. I’m currently working on living from day to day and taking things as they come.

Who are you spending this time period with?

I am with my new wife here and loving the quiet time—an extended honeymoon! My sons Kody and Kyler are riding this out on Maui, while still doing their college classes online. My middle son, Kasey, is in Portland, Oregon.

How are you staying connected with your sons during this time?

I am staying connected to my boys with almost daily telephone calls, texts, and FaceTime. All three are handling this very well by keeping busy with college online and working when they can, doing yard work for friends and family. When the waves are good they get some exercise in the ocean. Luckily, so far, Hawaii has been spared the brunt of this and our lockdown has kept the numbers down.

Creatively speaking, what are you doing to stay engaged?

I had to put my California book tour, “Going Mobile,” on hold. I was slated to start in San Francisco at the end of May and work my way down the coast to San Diego. So in the meantime, I am focused on catching up on things that never seem to get done. Our gardens are looking better than ever and the house is clean and organized.

What’s something else that you want to tackle during this time?

My goal is to stay fit and healthy by sticking to a daily routine of yoga and working out. But also, to just slow the pace down and relax. I am learning to be more aware of my daily habits and conserve everything as well as working toward being more self-sustained. Barbara has planted a wonderful garden, while I have worked on the fruit trees. I have planted avocados, mango, oranges, lemons, and limes, to name a few.

Where’s one place you can’t wait to explore once we’re able to travel again?

I recently purchased a motor home and I can’t wait to hit the road and explore our beautiful country.

How is your family helping to keep you grounded and feeling supported?

Barbara and I are a team working very well together to get through this challenging time. We have been ahead of this from the beginning and keep trying to be ready for things as they unfold.

What are you currently reading? Rereading? Rewatching?

We have been watching lots of movies, to the point that finding a new one has become difficult! We have also completed two 500-piece puzzles and are about to start on a 1,000-piece one. We work together and get them assembled pretty fast. They keep us focused and keep our minds off the world situation.

Any recipes or cocktails that you’ve mastered during this time?

Barbara has been getting very creative in the kitchen. Tomorrow she is roasting a turkey and all the good things to go with it. A special dessert drink we like is coconut water with a splash of Baileys—awesome and it tastes like pure Baileys.

What’s your go-to work-from-home uniform?

Every day I wear board shorts and a T-shirt. When I transform into the yard worker I slip into jeans and a long-sleeve shirt. We are still allowed to surf, so I like to get out early and catch a few before most people arrive. Barbara spends most of her day in sarong.

If you were to look back, what would be the three songs that epitomized this time for you?

“Emotional Rescue” by The Rolling Stones, “Life’s Been Good” by Joe Walsh, and “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” by Tom Petty.

This is sure to change the world, our culture, and our individual lives. What’s your perspective?

I think things like this bring out the best and worst in people, so this is the time true colors will be revealed. This will change our world and our habits, but we are strong people and we will adapt and move forward to the new normal.

Kerbox through the years in some of his most iconic Ralph Lauren campaign images
Kerbox through the years in some of his most iconic Ralph Lauren campaign images
  • Courtesy of Buzzy Kerbox
  • © Ralph Lauren Corporation