Page 14 - Harnett Life Summer 2021

too. They are competitors in need of a place to train.”

The place produces champions like her and her family.
“We have had at least 15 National Champions to come out of
our school,” April shared. “We have had another World Cham-
pion that I trained from Australia that won last year’s Elite
World Championships, and I had a girl go to the Jr. Masters,
of which only the top five in the world get invited to. I have
three here this summer skiing in the U.S. Open and the World
Championships in the fall, excluding my mom, who would
make four. Of the instructors I have every year, at least 18 of
them are collegiate skiers who learn a lot, leave here and go
back and share what they have learned with their teams.”

The Coble Ski School Head Coach is also reflective of the A spray and a smile
campers who have graced her doors over the years. won nearly it all in the water ski world but is happiest at home.
“We have traveled the world since I was 10 years old, up to
“We have so many recreational skiers turn into competitors. 30 competitions a year with maybe 20 of those international
That is very rewarding, but equally so are other milestones ones. I love seeing new places and things but most of all I love
like the 87-year-old we taught to ski again after a 50-year gap. getting home. There’s true Southern hospitality here in Harnett
There are the 2-year-olds we start in the sport nearly every County. If you go to the Corner Grill in Angier, my picture still
week. Then there’s the family from Pennsylvania who started hangs in the back from when I was 12. And, I will never for-
coming the second year we were open and are still with us to- get how the Angier Chamber of Commerce and then president
day, now into the third generation. We also host famous people Rachel Barnes held a plate sale benefit ― a shrimparoo ― for
who come here and do not wish for it to be known. We are a my family along with Ron’s Barn so my parents could afford
good place for people to feel like they’ve gotten away. Just the plane tickets to watch me compete in Australia. There is
look at our crystal blue water ― just like the Caribbean. It is so no way my parents could have afforded that back then. That
clear you can drink it.” is what I am talking about. Small town people want to help.
When you are a big thing in a small town, you feel very wel-
Another clear thing to April Coble Eller is her roots ― Harnett comed, loved and supported.”
County strong. The world-class competitor has seen, done and

A camper catches some height with a wakeboard
Page 14 Harnett Life ~ Summer 2021