Mark Powell has competed in freestyle skiing, skateboarding, in-line skating, and triathlon events over the last 20-plus years. In 1978 he was the Intermountain Skateboarding Champion. In the first edition of In-Line Skating, Powell and co-author John Svensson shared techniques on learning how to in-line skate that were based on the methods used to teach downhill skiing.
Powell is a realtor and freelance writer who has had one other book and numerous magazine articles published. He lives in Redmond, Washington, with his wife Jo. Together they enjoy a variety of outdoor sports.
John Svensson is the director of development for the in-line skating division of K2 Corporation. He began in-line skating in 1979 and has raced for both the Rollerblade and Ultrawheels road teams. He was also a member of the U.S. National Ski Team (Nordic) for six years.
Svensson is a former world record holder for downhill speed on in-lines, having reached a speed of 72 miles per hour on skates he designed and built. His father Einer is a World Masters Cross-Country Ski Champion.
Svensson lives on Vashon Island, off the coast of Seattle, with his wife Yvette and his children, Gunde and Anika.
