Dale Smith aka “The Sausage Man” has dedicated his life to skateboarding- first as a freestyle skater, then coach for the Hobie Team in the 1970’s and then as a board manufacturer and innovator of safety gear like Smith caps, Smith Gloves etc.
Dale Smith began skateboarding in 1958 at the age of just over seven years old. He initially started with his brother and a neighborhood surfer, Carson Hubbard, who served as a mentor. Dale credits a kind elderly neighbor, Mr. Martinez, for building his first custom skateboard.
- First Skateboard: It was a teardrop shape, common in the 50s.
- Original Graphics: Mr. Martinez painted it, mixing different colors, and then added a specific graphic on the top: “The Blob,” inspired by the Steve McQueen movie. This predated the common practice of graphics being the name of the board.
- Early Skates: By the early 1960s, Dale, his brother, and neighbors formed a skateboard team and rode to local schools. Dale was around 11 years old at this point.
In the 1970s, Dale reconnected with the skateboarding through Tom “Wally” Inouye , the younger brother of his girlfriend’s friend. After finding urethane wheels, they got into slalom racing.
- First Contest: entered the South Bay Skate Contest in late 1974, Dale reconnected with Skitch Hitchcock.
- First Sponsor: Dale was sponsored by Stinger Skateboards, Skitch Hitchcock’s company.
- The Nickname: Dale received his famous nickname, “Sausage Man,” at the World Championship in San Diego at Jack Murphy Stadium in 1975. While coming down the course, he ran into a Industrial cone, (not like the ones that pop away now), sending him flying and cutting up his hands.
My whole my skin and everything in my sausage little fingers was cut up and I I was cut up so bad I says I’m not racing the rest of the time I’ll just do freestyle… like two contests later the Logan’s [brothers] came up and said hey Sausage, what are you being called, sausage guy? Your name your name is Sausage Man now
After his competitive skating career slowed down as he transitioned to coaching and team managing the Hobie amateur team.
A random meeting in line at Jacks. He asked about the art on my board & told me that it was his board?!! You lost your mind old man. And then shared that it was his design. WTF lol he ask if i had a minute and walked me to his Honda CRV. opens the hatch & to my surprise it was leaded with raw boards. He shared his life story, shared some tips, wished me luck. He handed me his card & said call me any time. Not knowing who he was in the moment. I share my encounter with Dale to everyone who talks to me about skating. One of the coolest guys if ever met.
I went to school with Dale in the late 60’s and hung out a lot! I’m not sure he would remember me but we had some great times back then.