Rina Christensen

Rina (she/her) is a born-and-raised beach bum from Daytona Beach, Florida, who spent most of her early years finding any excuse to stay in the water. Her first job was with Ocean Rescue, where she worked for five years before attending the University of South Florida to study marine biology in Tampa Bay.

She discovered climbing in 2017 at a gym in St. Petersburg, Florida, and quickly fell in love with the sport. Weekend trips across the Southeast soon turned into a deeper passion for movement, adventure, and time spent outdoors. In 2021, Rina focused on pursuing a career in marine biology, working with nonprofits in the Tampa Bay area to create marketing materials and experiential learning curriculum. After nearly a year of hitting closed doors in the industry, she began considering a new path forward.

Drawn to the creative challenge of climbing and the opportunity to spend more time in wild spaces, Rina made the decision to head west. In spring 2022, she and her boyfriend traveled from the East Coast in a four-wheel camper, spending two and a half months living on the road before settling in Utah. From 2022 to 2025, she worked in residential mental health treatment and management while immersing herself in the outdoor community of Southern Utah.

During this time, Rina discovered the impact of recreational therapy, helping lead snowboarding and climbing excursions for at-risk youth throughout the region. She also began building a photography business, inspired by a desire to create something entirely her own. Starting with a small Canon Rebel she’d owned since high school, she photographed friends and practiced throughout the desert landscapes around her. Just a few years later, Rina now works full-time as a wedding photographer, traveling across the United States for projects and storytelling opportunities.

In the summer of 2023, Rina joined the International Climbers’ Festival in Lander, Wyoming, as a photographer. Since then, her role has expanded, and she now serves as the Marketing Coordinator for both the festival and the nonprofit behind it. Interestingly, many of the communication and outreach skills she developed during her marine biology internships became unexpectedly valuable in this work—a reminder that experiences often come full circle in ways we don’t anticipate. Along the way, Rina fell in love with Wyoming, home to some of her favorite sport climbing in the country.

In fall 2025, Rina joined She Sends Collective after previously collaborating with Founder and Executive Director Chelsea Rude through the festival. What began as organic conversations about the need for stronger mental health support and growth opportunities within the climbing community eventually evolved into a shared vision. Today, Rina helps expand SSC’s creative direction, storytelling, and visual presence.

In her free time, Rina enjoys exploring outside with her dog, Wiley, spending time with friends, and chasing new creative outlets—her current fixation is lino art. She is currently based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, though she continues to travel for much of the year. Deeply passionate about youth mentorship and mental health, Rina hopes to continue working in recreational therapy and creating opportunities for young people to experience the growth, confidence, and connection that can come through movement, play, and the outdoors.