Skiing is fairly equipment-heavy -- not as bad as, say, diving, but a whole lot more than running. You'll need skis, boots, bindings, poles and clothing. Let's save the skis for last and talk about the boots first.

• The purpose of boots is to provide complete support. They're made of a hard plastic shell that closes with buckles. They're heavy and hard to walk in -- but that's the reason they protect your ankles. First rule of thumb: If the boots aren't comfortable, forget it. Find a pair that is.
• Boots attach to the skis with bindings, which are adjusted to different tensions to hold the skis to the boots. When you fall, the bindings give way to let you separate from the skis. As a beginner, you'll want the adjustment to allow a release fairly easily, since falling with crossed skis and not being able to get up is a leading cause of broken ankles.
• The industry periodically changes its mind about proper ski length. The longer the ski, the more stability you get, but the shorter the ski, the easier it is to control. Ski manufacturers are always trying for the best compromise between stability and control. The latest trend these days is something called parabolics. These skis are almost hourglass-shaped: wider at the top, narrower where the boot attaches and then flared out again. My recommendation? Rent what the pro shop at your favorite mountain recommends.

The most important thing to learn, as in any speed sport, is control -- particularly as you pick up speed, which can be a bit scary the first time around. Control means learning how to stop. For safety reasons and for ultimate enjoyment of the sport, I can't make the following recommendation strongly enough: Take a lesson. If you can afford it, take an individual lesson. You'll find it to be money extremely well spent. If money is a concern (and who among us can say it isn't?), get together with three friends and take a group lesson. Trust me on this one: Skiing isn't something to dive into without guidance from a pro.