Scottyboy

Hi folks, My name is scotty, and i've been wanting to skydive for as long as i can remember, i don't know why but it has always looked awesome and i've always been mesmerised by it!.. I've had the opportunity of a tandem before but passed on it because i knew the moment i hit the ground i'd want to go straight back up and do it again and it contributed nothing towards getting my licence.. I had always hoped to do it earlier but, as i'm sure many of you can relate to, life in general has got in the way(i'm 34 now, kids etc!)of me doing it before now.. Anyway, a few years back i was stuck for work due to the recession in the uk, so i went back to university to learn something new (which i don't want to do now but thats another story!). So my present to myself for getting through uni (if i pass!!) is my A licence! (i'm thinking i've earned it!). I have some issues that i could do with some advice on though if you lot could be so grateful to share your wisdom on.. A couple of years ago i had a big crash on my snowboard in which i dislocated my left shoulder and ripped the cartilage off the front of the shoulder, surgery was advised but i opted to go without the surgery at the time.. that was until i had a further 2 dislocations.. So, i had the surgery last year and apart from the odd tweak of pain (2x in a year) it's been fine.. I know i need to get back to the gym and work on my strength but i intend to do loads of that over the next few months.. So to boil down to my dilemma(s) and the whole point of this thread.. My thought of approaching the AFF is hindered by my shoulder so, i'm hoping to head to the closest wind tunnel which is 250+miles away! (wish i'd done it while on holiday in Cali last year @ universal!!) and do an AFF session to make sure my arm can take it.. All going well with that i'm hoping to do my training with a local (Scottish) instructor who is apparently highly regarded in the sport and undertake my AFF on one of his organised trips either in Spain or California.. So, finally getting round to my questions.. Is there any advice that you lot can possibly give me (maybe i'm just shitting myself and need reassurance!!..lol) as how i can possibly approach this better? Am i missing anything that i should be taking into account while organising this? And last but not least.. I'm terrified of the thought of sitting at the door (bearing in mind that there is nothing to fear but the fear itself!!).. Not sure i can actually do it... Does it get easier than i imagine???.. lol Thanks for your help in advance, sorry for the long winded post.. Scott Oh, (possibly a very stupid question here!) I have a power kite too that is shaped like a canopy.. Is controlling a proper canopy similar?..