I've used the typical second-growth cypress that's available in Louisiana lumberyards for bookcases - it has attractive grain, nice to work with, cuts like cheese, but pretty rubbery in thin sections. I can bend a 3/4" thick 6' long board a long way without much effort compared to pine or cedar. Unless the piece you have is old-growth heartwood, I'd expect that a paddle in typical dimensions would be too springy - but I don't know what the piece you have is like. If you try it, it'd be worth leaving the scantlings as big as you can stand and work it down if the stiffness seems OK. At worst, it'll look nice on the wall.

FWIW,

Mike

: I came across a piece of cypress that is a full 2x6. Having recently broken 2
: WRC GP's (using a GPS and trying to see how fast I could go), I wondered
: if this piece of Cypress would be good for carving a GP. I have to
: laminate my WRC b/c my supplier only carries 1" stock. I have been
: wondering if this piece of Cypress should go for a paddle or the SOF I'm
: starting next weekend.

: I would appreciate all opinions.

: Thanks
: B