Page 9 - Harnett Life Summer 2021

for April’s burgeoning professional career. This was a “needle
in the haystack find,” according to April, as the lake they lived
on near McGee’s Crossroads ― which she grew up skiing on
after the family moved from Boone Trail to Angier ― was
closed and drained by the Environmental Protection Agency
due to issues with its dam.

“Those were trying times,” she said. “My last two years at
Carolina, when I was competing on the pro tour, I was driving
to Sanford to have a place to ski and even transferred to Loui-
siana for one semester to ski down there. Then we found this
property. A friend of dad’s ― Reggie Kelly ― flew over this
property out of the Harnett County airport one day and called
my dad because he knew we were looking for land. Within a
month, we purchased it and have been here clearing land, slop-
ing banks and making improvements ever since.”

According to April, the Cobles sold their home in Angier “fast-
er than they thought” and bought a singlewide trailer to the
land tract to live in. Being three years younger, April’s sister ―
also a water skier who qualified for the Pro Tour but decided on
dental school instead ― was away at college when the family

Kamryn Eller enjoys
wakeboarding

April Coble Eller coaches a young skier

Harnett Life ~ Summer 2021 Page 9