By Tim Kevan
Thomas Malthus, back in the eighteenth century, made a name for himself with his “Principle of Population.” The English demographer contended that the population would eventually outrun its food supply. There are many in the surfing world who might find the Malthus world-view congenial. Just as improvements in public health helped fuel an explosion in the general population, so advances in wetsuit and board design are now contributing to the over-population of many of our best beaches all year round. If Malthus is right, the inevitable consequence is that there will be a catastrophic decrease in waves per person. The evidence is persuasive, from the ultra-crowded beaches of North Devon and Cornwall to the once-deserted, and now all too populous, cold-water havens of Easky and Thurso East. Even the Algarve resembles a building site with new apartments being built to accommodate the surf tourists. It is with all this in mind that the Outer Hebrides looked alluring even in late October.