There are a few things to consider about rental skis, the first big question is whether you should buy or rent. You should rent.
Honestly, unless you are skiing at least 3 times a year, the development in ski technology means that you will be hard-pressed to justify buying skis or a snowboard in terms of value for money, and add to that the hassle of organising extra baggage on flights.
The amount of choice that exists now means that you should never put up with skis that aren't right for you, no matter what your experience level or fitness and body type.
There are different factors to take into account, and its vital to be completely honest with the staff in the shop. Don't be thinking that the better skis you have the better you will ski! A novice will struggle on skis for experts, and an expert will be limited by beginners skis. Here are the things to bear in mind when choosing:
The length of the ski (or board)- the shorter the ski, the easier it is to turn, but the less stable it will be at high speed or in fresh snow.
The width - Similarly, narrow skis are easy to turn, but not so good in deeper fresh snow, where they will dig in and slow you down.
The condition of the ski - surface damage isn't anything to worry about, but the base of the ski and the edges are the important bit. These should both be smooth and without any holes or cracks.
The Sidecut - this is the word to describe the hourglass shape that new skis have. the bigger the difference between the middle and the tip, the faster it will turn. So if you want to be doing loads of short quick turns, then you want an exaggerated shape, or a less dramatic sidecut for longer turns or powder skiing.
Your own attributes - your height, weight, ability and style of skiing will have to be taken into account. Be absolutely honest to get the best results, and don't lie about your weight, as this will help set the strength of your bindings keeping you on your skis. Bindings set to the wrong weight are actually more dangerous if you fall.
Flexibility of the ski - the harder the ski, the more stable it will be, but the more work it will be to turn, as a beginner a soft ski is more forgiving and easier to learn on.
Freestyle ski's/ twin-tips - if you want to have a go at the snow park, then twin-tips with plenty of 'pop' are for you, though a really soft ski will not give you great control in less than perfect conditions elsewhere.
Snowboarders can use the same tips here, though shop selection is often a bigger factor, with most resorts having specialist snowboard shops which will have greater choice and more knowledgeable staff.
So there you are. I hope I cleared things up for you.
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