This bend was my biggest concern, but turned out to be "no problem". A little water helped.
Buying good wood is tough! I bought a "Home Depot" piece of 3/8" ACX to try this bend; it was really scant thickness. So when I ordered marine, the sales guy told me it would be scant and only 4-ply. It turned out to be full thickness 5-ply. But it worked... just, lots of nervous moments!