Quim Salarich has subscribed to making history. If yesterday he was 8th in the slalom on the first day of the World Cup event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany), equaling what Paco Fernández Ochoa achieved in the 1980 Langgries Combined, today the 28-year-old Catalan has entered even more in the Olympus of national alpine skiing by finishing seventh in the second slalom… 0.13 from the podium in the German station and 0.60 from the winner, the Norwegian Kristofferson. A ‘Top 7’ that hasn’t seen a Spaniard in the men’s World Cup since 1979 when Paco Fernández Ochoa was sixth in Madonna di Campiglio’s combined. And if we confine ourselves specifically to the slalom, since 1975 with a fourth in Sun Valley of the aforementioned Olympic champion in Sapporo 1972.
The Spanish skier had signed an amazing fourth in the first round despite coming out with the Spanish number 49 and was able to hold out among the best. An incredible success that was again partly accompanied by Juan del Campo, who managed to qualify again among the top 30 for the second heat, but the 27-year-old Basque, 25th on Saturday, could not reach the final finish.
“We have seen that it is possible. The podium has escaped us by very little. I have skied very well and it has been confirmed that Spain is in the market and although the ‘drawer’ is not easy, it is possible. A small speed mismatch before entering the flat prevented it today, but I am very happy to see that we are there. All this is impressive”, affirmed a happy Salarich to RTVE. The bases are settled and it will be a matter of time. In addition, what Salarich has achieved is also a giant step towards what would be an epic qualification for the finals in the French stages of Courchevel and Meribel in March.