If your looking for wood for bending ribs, the best is green (freshly cut) white oak. No knots. Straight grain.

You don't need long wood obviously. You have to find a local mill and a good source is calling tree services. These days they are all hooked in with mills who are looking for good wood for lumber. You always see tree crews lugging away long runs of good wood without branches.
Post your inquiry here too:

http://www.qajaqusa.org/cgi-bin/GreenlandTechniqueForum_config.pl

You can steam bend dry oak but once you use green wood, you won't believe the difference. It just bends like rubber. It even bends without steaming but won't hold shape.