Snow Buddies · Community & support
Privacy Policy
What you share, how it is used, and the choices you have.
Last updated ·
Account and profile information
When you sign in with Apple, we receive an account identifier and the name or email Apple makes available, which may be a private relay address. We do not receive your Apple password. We store information you provide, such as your name, username, birth date, photos, city, riding preferences, languages, mountains, and optional Instagram handle.
Profiles are visible to other eligible members according to discovery and blocking rules. Age is shown instead of your birth date. Mountain plans and riding preferences help other members discover you. Choose carefully what you put in your profile, photos, plans, and messages.
Location and the Discover map
With your permission, the app uses device location while you use it to show nearby riders and mountains. When map visibility is enabled, location updates are processed into a mountain or general area before being stored as your map presence. Other members see that mountain or area, not your exact coordinates. Areas are widened where few riders are present.
Map participation is reciprocal: you appear on the map to see other riders on it. A stored position expires after 72 hours without an update. Turning off “Show me on the map” in Settings clears your stored map position. You can change location permission in iPhone Settings. Map and place searches may be processed by Apple Maps. Trail navigation uses location on your device.
Messages and community activity
We store messages, connections, group membership, ride activity, mountain plans, notifications, blocks, and reports to provide those features. Messages are available to conversation participants. Do not assume messages are end-to-end encrypted. Authorized moderators may review reported content and relevant message context when investigating a report.
Device information and notifications
If you enable push notifications, we store a device notification token and your preferences. We process technical information needed to operate and secure the service, such as requests, IP addresses, errors, and service activity. Hosting providers may retain operational logs. Manage notification categories in the app and system permission in iPhone Settings.
Waitlist and website
Joining the waitlist allows us to email you about the launch. We store your email address, signup time, and signup source in a Google Sheet. The signup service also uses a one-way key derived from your IP address to limit repeated requests; the waitlist receiver is not sent your raw IP address. Your email is not displayed publicly or sold. To leave the list, reply to a launch update or email hi@snowbuddies.io.
The website processes normal web requests and uses browser storage to maintain sign-in sessions. Joining the waitlist does not create an app account or make you visible to riders.
How information is used and shared
We use information to operate accounts, match riders with places and plans, deliver messages and notifications, respond to reports, prevent misuse, troubleshoot problems, and send requested launch updates. Providers such as Apple, Supabase, Vercel, and Google process information needed for authentication, hosting, storage, notifications, or the waitlist. Information may be processed outside your country.
Content is shared with members as described above. We may also disclose information when required by law or where necessary to protect people, investigate abuse, or protect the service. Opening a resort, Instagram, photo-credit, or other external link brings you under that provider’s own privacy practices.
Retention and account deletion
We keep account information while needed to provide the service and address operational, safety, and legal requirements. Request deletion from Profile → Settings → Delete account. Your account is hidden while deletion is processed; the deletion flow removes the account, profile photos, and associated app content. If processing fails, the account stays hidden and deletion can be retried. Other people’s saved copies and separately retained provider logs are not removed by deleting your account.
The waitlist is separate from your app account; ask separately to remove a waitlist email. Depending on your location, you may have rights to access, correct, delete, or otherwise control personal information. Contact us at hi@snowbuddies.io. We may need to verify a request before acting on it.
Adults only and policy updates
Snow Buddies is intended for adults 18 and older. Report suspected underage accounts in the app. We may update this policy as the service develops. We will update the date above and provide notice of material changes as appropriate.