Dallas, Texas  -- The International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is pleased to announce at the North American Tree Climbing Competition in Longmont, Colorado, on September 20, the recipient of the 2015 North American Champion Masters Challenge was Dallas area tree climber, Miguel Pastenes.  Miguel’s win ranks him as the top tree climber for the entire North America continent.

ISA hosts the North American Tree Climbing Competition to honor the climbing professionals within the tree care industry (www.isa-arbor.com).  The top ranking climbers from participating chapters in Canada, Mexico and the U.S., have their physical and mental capabilities tested for their aptitude in safely and effectively climbing during the two day competition.

The event is focused on safety and designed to assess the climbers abilities as they ascend ropes and climb to different points designated throughout a tree, performing a variety of work-and-rescue-simulations along the way, at times as high up as 100 feet. The top ranking competitors then compete in a final round (the Masters Challenge) for the title of North American Champion. To become a champion requires very unique physical and mental talents as well as a sharp focus on safety.

Miguel Pastenes has an unprecedented record of winning the Texas Chapter Tree Climbing Competition eight times providing the distinct honor of representing Texas in the North American, as well as International Competitions.  This year’s elite group of climbers included thirty seven male and six female tree climbers from various parts of North America.

“The competition requires a great deal of training and education as it tests a tree climber’s strength, agility, balance and ability to use various climbing and rope technics” says Pastenes.

One challenge focuses on the climbers ability to ascend a 50` rope in a timed event;  while another, the “work-climb” event, demonstrates a climber’s skill, balance and coordination. The “aerial rescue” challenges a climber's ability to rescue a worker stranded 30` up, injured perhaps by a run-in with a live electrical wire, or chainsaw accident.

The International Society of Arboriculture – Texas Chapter (ISAT) congratulate Miguel Pastenes, tree climber and crew leader with Arborilogical Services Inc., the experts your trees deserve: www.arborilogical.com.

For more information contact Steve Houser, shouser@arborilogical.com, 972-877-0361, and John Giedraitis, Executive Director, ISAT, jpg@isatexas.com , 979-324-1929.