If you have Skied In the Rockies in recent years you probably considered renting skis. Well your not alone. I have some friends with a Ski Shop in Vail Colorado who was telling me they have had %50 increase in rentals every year for 3 years.
This coincides with Vail activating 100K epic passes each year and higher baggage fee's to bring your own skis.
The benefits to renting skis outweighs the hassle, cost and dragging your gear around when in the Western US. If you think about it the cost of bringing skis entails more than that if you tip porters. $5.00 arriving at the airport, Leaving the airport (both twice) the hotels bellman (both ways). That approximately $70 each way to bring your skis.
After spending the last several seasons in Vail CO I have seen so many people dump their East Coast Skis for Powder Ski Rentals. Though the fat skis have finally made it East the Skis in places like Vail are even fatter. 110 cm under foot in many cases.
The trend to renting skis on ski vacations will continue as long as spending slightly higher cost to rent makes a better travel experience.