2 Charged in Beating at Surfing Contest : Crime: World-ranked athlete, father of other competitor are accused in attack on man who refused to leave competition site.

A world-ranked surfer and the father of another top surfing competitor have been charged with beating a man who refused to leave the waters off Malibu after a surf contest had started.

Lance Henry Hookano, 34, of Oahu and Joseph David Tudor, 43, of San Diego failed to respond to letters and telephone calls from the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office after felony assault charges were filed Oct. 28. As a result, arrest warrants have been issued. Bail for each man has been set at $10,000.

Hookano, who ranks fourth in longboard surfing worldwide, and Tudor, who is the father of third-ranked Joel Tudor, were at Surfrider Beach in Malibu the morning of Sept. 27 for the Oxbow World Longboard Championships. Richard P. Ernsdorf, who had been at the popular spot since early that morning surfing on a knee board, did not leave when the contest began. Tudor allegedly went out on a paddleboard to confront Ernsdorf after contest organizers asked non-competing surfers to leave the water. A fight ensued. Hookano paddled out a little later and joined in, authorities said.

Ernsdorf suffered a concussion, 15 stitches to his face and a dislocated shoulder in the fight. He was treated by county lifeguards at the scene and taken to Santa Monica Hospital Medical Center’s emergency room.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Phillip Stirling said Ernsdorf’s injuries were severe enough to warrant felony charges.

The incident has also served as a lightning rod for the Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors, which last month suspended issuance of surf contest permits until January.

“Surfrider Beach is the best surfing in L.A. County,” said Ken Johnson, chief of community services for the department. “We’re looking at whether the number of bookings at the beach were too much. We will change the policy if need be.”

Three requests for surf contests, two professional and one amateur, have been temporarily denied, Johnson said. Los Angeles County lifeguards and beach administrators will review the way permits are issued at Surfrider Beach.

Three surf events were held in September at Surfrider Beach, according to Department of Beaches and Harbors officials, monopolizing the popular surfing spot nearly every weekend that month. Six permits were issued from May to October, the region’s surf season.