I've tried snowboarding too and liked it. It took me a long time before I was willing to try because I was too afraid of spending the day rolling around in the snow on the bunny hill.
Find out where people are skiing and what kind of conditions they most often encounter. Buy the gear that best works for the terrain and the type of skiing you will be doing.
I don't have studs for my bike...yet. Knobbys work fine on packed and shallow loose and feel just the same as riding on dirt. I plan to studs this season so I can expand my riding to more conditions.
People who are really into winter riding say the super-fat-tire bikes like the Surly Pugsley, Fatback, and 9:ZERO:7 are without comparison. (I've got too many two-wheelers already).
"My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand." Thich Nhat Hanh
