Tauranga Olympic kayaker Mike Dawson may not have got a podium finish, but thanks to Great Britain's Joe Clarke, he will get a free helicopter ride.

The duo spent three days filming for energy drink company Red Bull on the South Island's Whataroa River at the start of 2016 and were flown into the area by helicopter company Glacier Country.

Mike Dawson on the water. Photo: Jamie Troughton

"At the end of it, we were all having a few beers at the Whataroa pub. I said to them good luck - bring back medals, and the next flight's on us," Glacier Country owner Kevin Hill told Stuff.

Dawson mentioned the offer in a televised interview in Rio after the race, which Clarke won a gold medal for.

Hill says he will deliver on his promise if Dawson and Clarke showed up.

"I'll give them whatever they want - they can have a scenic flight if they want.

"It'll be good to look at the medal."

When asked if the offer could be extended to New Zealander and women's canoe slalom silver medal winner Luuka Jones, Hill responded it was on Dawson's shoulders.

"I'll have to talk to Mike about that."

It was not the first time Olympians had used the Whataroa River for pre-tournament training, Hill says.

The American kayak team has used it several times for training.

It can be a rough river, but its rocks and boulders provide a good training ground, Hill says.

"It's one of the best kayaker rivers in the world. People come from all around the world to use it.

"It's one of the rivers on every kayakers list to do."

- Stuff