As a co-host of the Discover Wisconsin TV show, one of the more popular questions I get asked is: "What's the craziest thing you've ever done while filming?" There have been so many wild moments, but here are 16 that come to mind:
1. I completely bombed a water-ski jump on Lake Arrowhead... three times in a row. (Miraculously, no one was injured in the making of that episode.)
2. ...but I did redeem myself by water-skiing behind a seaplane that very same day.
3. While filming in River Falls, I kept the bulls at bay as a rodeo clown. Yeehaw.
4. In nearby Hudson, I competed in a smooshboarding competition... and lost.
5. I was tapped to judged a very prestigious "Show Me Your Fur" Contest during Fun on the Frozen Flambeau in Rusk County. Those party-goers really brought their A-game.
6. I've done a lot of kayaking here in Wisconsin, but no rapids were more challenging than the waves I encountered in Black River Falls.
7. During our fall trip to Lake Geneva, our crew climbed aboard a hot air balloon and floated above Geneva Lake. To this day, it was one of the most beautiful shoots I've ever been a part of.
8. After getting my motorcycle license in May 2016, I hopped on a Harley and made my way around southeastern Wisconsin - with Bill Davidson.
9. My co-host, Jake Zimmerman, and I got a behind-the-scenes tour of Lambeau Field with former Packers kicker Chris Jacke. He was great.
10. I wear a lot of hats... literally. I loved dressing up as an 1800s dame at the Baker House in Lake Geneva.
11. Last summer, one of our producers asked me to compete in a barrel racing competition in Buffalo County... I was very nervous. And pretty slow.
12. The owner of Smokey Hollow Campground in Lodi let me at the helm of a gigantic motorized shopping cart. Now that was a blast.
13. Speaking of things that go fast, I toured the backwaters of La Crosse by airboat.
14. I embarked on my first helicopter trip in Oconto County. The views were just stunning.
15. I strapped on some bulky snowshoes and played snowshoe baseball at Blizzard Blast in Conover. I only fell three times.
16. Another producer talked me into performing with the Rock Aqua Jays Water Ski Show Team in Janesville. Let's just say I got an A for effort.
Ah, the memories. Hats off to the #DWcrew for putting up with my shenanigans. If you have a favorite moment or episode, let me know on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (@MariahHaberman). Cheers to another year full of adventure, mishaps and fearlessness.
- Mariah Haberman is the co-host of the nation's longest-running tourism TV show, "Discover Wisconsin." Her column is published Tuesday on Life page in the Times.
1. I completely bombed a water-ski jump on Lake Arrowhead... three times in a row. (Miraculously, no one was injured in the making of that episode.)
2. ...but I did redeem myself by water-skiing behind a seaplane that very same day.
3. While filming in River Falls, I kept the bulls at bay as a rodeo clown. Yeehaw.
4. In nearby Hudson, I competed in a smooshboarding competition... and lost.
5. I was tapped to judged a very prestigious "Show Me Your Fur" Contest during Fun on the Frozen Flambeau in Rusk County. Those party-goers really brought their A-game.
6. I've done a lot of kayaking here in Wisconsin, but no rapids were more challenging than the waves I encountered in Black River Falls.
7. During our fall trip to Lake Geneva, our crew climbed aboard a hot air balloon and floated above Geneva Lake. To this day, it was one of the most beautiful shoots I've ever been a part of.
8. After getting my motorcycle license in May 2016, I hopped on a Harley and made my way around southeastern Wisconsin - with Bill Davidson.
9. My co-host, Jake Zimmerman, and I got a behind-the-scenes tour of Lambeau Field with former Packers kicker Chris Jacke. He was great.
10. I wear a lot of hats... literally. I loved dressing up as an 1800s dame at the Baker House in Lake Geneva.
11. Last summer, one of our producers asked me to compete in a barrel racing competition in Buffalo County... I was very nervous. And pretty slow.
12. The owner of Smokey Hollow Campground in Lodi let me at the helm of a gigantic motorized shopping cart. Now that was a blast.
13. Speaking of things that go fast, I toured the backwaters of La Crosse by airboat.
14. I embarked on my first helicopter trip in Oconto County. The views were just stunning.
15. I strapped on some bulky snowshoes and played snowshoe baseball at Blizzard Blast in Conover. I only fell three times.
16. Another producer talked me into performing with the Rock Aqua Jays Water Ski Show Team in Janesville. Let's just say I got an A for effort.
Ah, the memories. Hats off to the #DWcrew for putting up with my shenanigans. If you have a favorite moment or episode, let me know on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (@MariahHaberman). Cheers to another year full of adventure, mishaps and fearlessness.
- Mariah Haberman is the co-host of the nation's longest-running tourism TV show, "Discover Wisconsin." Her column is published Tuesday on Life page in the Times.