Question: When I do the Butterfly Roll I have a hard time flipping over, as if the paddle being beside the kayak stabilizes it. Getting the paddle to the other side and up to the surface takes almost as much effort as the roll itself. Any suggestions here?

Answer: Difficulty capsizing when doing a Butterfly Roll is a fairly common problem. There are a few things that you can do to make it easier. First, when capsizing, try to enter the water forehead first (as if you were doing a dive and not a belly flop). A diving position (with a rounded spine) will help you to get deeper into the water. Once you reach a certain point, the kayak will automatically capsize completely. If you do get stuck, try jiggling your hips to bring the kayak over. Another thing you can try is holding the paddle next to the kayak and on edge (instead of flat on the surface) to create less buoyancy during the initial capsize. Make sure to hold it close to the kayak instead of allowing it to drift away from it. Flatten the paddle again for the recovery.