Curt Warren's a new Aussie flying into our arms

It has been a long and often frustrating journey for Curt Warren, but the hang-gliding champion can now officially call Australia home.Co-owner of Warren Windsports, the Stanwell Park man proudly became an Australian citizen at a ceremony in Wollongong this week, eight years after he first soared onto our sunburnt shores.A regular sight in the sky over Bald Hill giving hang-gliding tours and lessons to eager thrillseekers, Warren said it was his skills in the sky that eventually secured his place."It's been a long road to citizenship," Warren said."I was accepted for distinguished talent in hang-gliding and also for being an instructor."It's pretty cool to reflect on where I've come from since I dreamt up the idea in late 2000."Originally from Florida, Warren said his family in the United States had mixed feelings about his change of citizenship."Of course they're happy and sad," he said."Sad that I'm gone, but from the first time I came over here eight years ago they said they could understand why I would want to stay."Now Warren is looking to the future and will marry his business partner Louise Wilmott next month.He then hopes to secure his place on the Australian hang-gliding team to represent his new country at the world championships in France this June."So far it's looking pretty good," Warren said."I just won the Australian nationals and I'm ranked third for the Aussies and I need to be top four. I just go to one more competition before the team is decided."