Why We Built SnowOverflow Foundation: A Personal Journey Turned Global Mission

Discover the story behind the SnowOverflow Foundation—how one immigrant’s first ski trip sparked a global movement to make winter sports more accessible, inclusive, and joyful for everyone.

Song He

7/13/2024 · 3 min read

Hi, I’m Song—a first-generation immigrant to the United States, born and raised in the heart of China. Growing up in central China, the idea of skiing or snowboarding was completely foreign to me. My childhood winters were cold, but not snowy; adventure was found in books, not on the slopes.

That all changed in my mid-20s when work brought me from the scorching heat of Texas to the Bay Area. One winter, almost on a whim, I took a weekend trip to Boreal Mountain near Lake Tahoe. That day changed my life.

What started as a clumsy, laugh-filled day on skis quickly turned into something deeper. I didn’t just fall in love with skiing because it was fun—I became addicted to the way it pushed me emotionally and spiritually. Each time I stood at the top of a run, staring down a steep slope, I was forced to confront fear head-on. There was no shortcut, no way around it—I had to go through it. That lesson echoed far beyond the mountain; it helped me face challenges in real life with a braver, more open heart.

But skiing offered more than courage. It reconnected me to nature in a way I had never known. There’s something magical about gliding through snow-covered forests or standing in silence on a mountaintop, surrounded by white as far as the eye can see. I learned patience and presence. Winter sports are fleeting—seasonal and unpredictable—so every run became something to be treasured.

Photo by Sime Basioli on StockSnap

After a few seasons of personal growth and joy, I felt a strong desire to share this world with others. In late 2024, I brought together a small group of nearly 20 people from the U.S., Canada, and Europe. We came from all walks of life—students, engineers, designers, skiers, snowboarders, and even total beginners. What united us was a belief that winter sports should be easier to access, easier to enjoy, and easier to share.

Together, we built a simple mobile app called SnowOverflow, designed to help people find ski and snowboard buddies around the world. We soft-launched it in early 2025, and by the end of the snow season, over 5,000 users had joined from across the globe.

The name SnowOverflow was born from a mix of joy and geeky humor. On one hand, I wanted to capture the feeling of snow and happiness overflowing—those moments when you're buried in powder or smiling so hard your face hurts. On the other hand, I’m a software professional who spent many late nights browsing Stack Overflow. The name is a playful nod to that part of my identity.

Our initial success with the app gave us purpose. It showed us that people were hungry for connection, and that winter sports could be a powerful medium for community, growth, and joy. So in 2025, I took the next step—we officially founded the SnowOverflow Foundation, a registered nonprofit organization based in California with 501(c)(3) status.

Photo by Toa Heftiba on StockSnap

Our vision is simple yet bold:
To globally promote winter sports by making them more accessible, engaging, and enjoyable for everyone.

To achieve that, the Foundation focuses on three key pillars:

1. Technology – We continue to develop and improve our mobile app, expanding its features to support trip planning, carpooling, gear coordination, and more.

2. Education & Outreach – We aim to organize beginner-friendly programs, virtual workshops, and community events that welcome newcomers into the world of winter sports.

3. Partnerships & Support – With the help of donations from individuals and organizations that share our mission, we fund initiatives that lower the barriers to participation—whether that means offering subsidies for gear rentals, partnering with ski schools, or promoting inclusive experiences.

At SnowOverflow Foundation, we believe that skiing and snowboarding are more than just sports—they're doorways to self-discovery, resilience, nature, and joy. And no matter your background, experience, or location, you deserve a chance to feel that thrill.

We’re just getting started, and we’d love for you to be part of this ride.

Join us. Whether you’re a fellow immigrant like me, a lifelong skier, a curious first-timer, or someone who simply believes in making the world more joyful—SnowOverflow is for you.

Let’s make winter sports overflow with meaning, together.