A 59-year-old man faces two felony charges for allegedly using his stand-up paddleboard (SUP) paddle to attack a woman surfer.

What started as a mellow summer morning surf at Morro Strand State Beach ended with felony charges.

On Saturday, August 23, around 10:45 am, California State Parks rangers rushed to the lineup south of the Morro Strand entrance after a 911 call reported a violent altercation in the water.

Witnesses say the clash began over wave priority and escalated into a brutal attack.

The suspect, Andrew Eric Gustafson of Morro Bay, was out on his stand-up paddleboard when a woman surfer dropped into a wave ahead of him.

According to witnesses, Gustafson paddled hard toward her, struck her from behind, then turned his SUP paddle into a weapon.

A Coward Attack

Surfers in the water reported that Gustafson screamed at the woman, hit her with his paddle, and rammed her with his board.

He then allegedly climbed onto her surfboard, grabbed her by the hair, and forced her underwater.

The woman declined medical treatment but was visibly shaken after the incident.

State Parks officers arrested Gustafson shortly after.

He was booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, felony assault with a deadly weapon, and misdemeanor battery.

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney later filed two felony counts: assault with a deadly weapon and assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury.

Court filings confirm the “deadly weapon” in question was Gustafson’s paddle.

Surfboards and Paddles Are Weapons

Jail records initially listed Gustafson’s bail at $500,000.

At one point, reports indicated it was raised to $550,000 before later being reduced to $25,000.

His arraignment was scheduled for Wednesday, and another hearing is set for September 3.

The attack has rattled the Morro Bay surf community, which is used to territorial disputes in the lineup but not full-blown violence.

The area around Morro Rock is a hotspot for beginners, college kids, and SUP riders alike, a mix that can make for crowded, chaotic peaks.

Still, surfers say it’s rare for surf rage to reach this level of aggression.

For now, Gustafson remains in custody, his paddleboard confiscated as evidence, while the case moves through San Luis Obispo County court.

Surfboards are, per se, dangerous weapons that can inadvertently hurt surfers or swimmers.

A SUP kit with its paddle and sometimes bigger and heavier boards may inflict even more injuries.

Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com