Page 11 - Harnett Life Summer 2021

MasterCraft boats are a Coble Water Ski & Wakeboard Camp sponsor

moved from Angier to Lillington. According to April, her sister Family matriarch Shirley eventually retired with 41 years of
lives in Wilmington and skis competitively a little now and has being a credit manager in Raleigh and became the company’s
an 8-year-old son who is just starting the sport. chief financial officer. A winning water skier in her own right,
she has competed in World Championships and won the U.S.
Reflecting on their early days, April said, “My parents lived Nationals. She is also a state record holder and continues to
in one end of the trailer, I lived in the middle section along compete on both national and international levels ― now in
with another instructor and four campers filled up the rest. That her late 70s.
all happened the first month.” The Cobles lived in that while
building their home in the front of the property; the Ellers con- “My mom is my mentor, fellow skier and idol,” April said.
structed their home in the back. “She goes hard and is very competitive. She won her first Na-
tionals last year and plans to ski in the World Championships
N.C. Water Ski Hall of Fame inductees Gary and Shirley Coble in France this September. My dad is almost 80 years old now
began second careers at the new property. Gary retired from and is her ski caddy. He supports her and drives the RV to tour-
teaching and coaching at Western Harnett High School after 18 naments when we all stay together. Growing up, mom was the
years and became April’s full-time water ski coach. His retire- one who made sure my sponsor letters got written, and that I
ment also came just in time to start the new family-run school got enough sleep and the right food, while my dad was more
and camp. about gear, boats and training. He was the momentum in get-
ting it all started and competed himself as well. My parents
Speaking of her dad’s influence on her skiing, April said, complement each other.”
“When I would go to camps, workshops or to train in other
places, dad always came. Then he would take what he learned The Ellers also have two teenage children at home. Daughter
and use it at home in coaching me. My husband has more so Kamryn graduated from Harnett Central High School in May
my coach the last 10 years or so of my career, but my dad was and will attend High Point University this fall. She enjoys rec-
and will always be my coach and mentor.” reational skiing and water sports and is the camp photogra-
pher. Landis, their son, is a rising high school sophomore and a

Harnett Life ~ Summer 2021 Page 11