For a snowboarder, there’s nothing like gliding over fresh powder. When 15-year-old Luke woke up for the first full day of his wish trip at Whistler Blackcomb ski resort in British Columbia, he found that more than a foot of snow had dusted the mountains.

Luke was diagnosed with a type of cancer that affects his joints. But missing a year of school and difficult medical treatments were far from his mind as he glided from his room at Taluswood straight to the lifts to get his day started. He and his father went straight to the top of the mountains, choosing a trail that was nearly 10 miles long. The run lasted nearly 45 minutes, taking them over pristine powder and challenging mogul fields.

“The mountain was really big and had lots of trails to choose from,” Luke wrote to the Make-A-Wish Foundation^® .

For five days, Luke carved the seemingly endless trails at Whistler Blackcomb’s renowned mountains. At night, he enjoyed his room’s private hot tub and the resort’s bustling villages.

An added thrill for Luke was getting the chance to preview what awaits his favorite athletes when the 2010 Winter Olympic alpine skiing events are held here in February. He saw the downhill runs first-hand, the Dave Murray Downhill (men’s) and Franz’s Run (women’s). Luke also checked out the new Peak 2 Peak Gondola that links Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.

After countless numbers of runs, it was time for Luke to head back home to New Jersey.

“I want to thank the Make-A-Wish Foundation and everyone who was involved in making my wish come true,” Luke wrote. “My family and I will remember this vacation forever.”