I appreciate a light amount of flex in the early season and while I mainly paddle single blade carbon, early training is with a Dale Fox carbon bladed basswood shaft hybrid. It’s also easier on joints if you are recovering an injury or after an event. Other than that it’s full carbon for single blades for me. Tim Fiske at Zone made the best
My preference for Guideboat oars is Soft Maple but will use a pair of Hard maple from time to time. Prefer over Cherry which always has a flexy sponginess to it. Not responsive enough for me. I have a vintage pair of spruce oars that are very light and make nice carrying into fishing ponds