Video of the Week: Filipe Ortiz in Tropicalients Na Braza

While other Blind dudes have been getting some coverage here and there since "Damn" came out, I haven't seen anything from Filipe. Now I know why. This new lengthy part shows that he's still skating hesh and stacking gnarly clips like few others. And the fact that he throws down some hammers on the roughest streets possible makes this new part a real nice refresher on how Filipe shreds.

In other news:
Trevor Colden is now pro for Skate Mental and despite what people say about the music he skates to, he is darn good and deserves the spot on the unique team.
James Hardy delivers the expected rugged and stylish skating in his Faith Skate Supply bonus part, really utilizing his home state to its potential.
Anthony Vega is Burnin' Footy in very exciting anticipation for his next part in LIVIN.
Leo Heinert has a Video Check Out with Transworld and after demolishing NYC in his welcome video for Torro, he continues to come through with pretty crazy city clips.
Taylor Kirby's Shep Dawgs Vol. 4 teaser part is a sick precursor to what might be one of the best homie videos ever.
Rambo fakie heelflips a picnic table for the House of Hammers, demonstrating a determination and tirelessness I haven't seen in many skaters. Despite some clip releasing issues, the whole story behind this pretty heavy notch in the picnic-table-belt is well worth the time.
Greg Lutzka has a short and sweet Spring Fling of new footage. It's relatively very little but it's nice to see some new tricks and footage outside of the contest circuit.

Now some nice B-Sides and redone older footage:
Barney Page - Excess Baggage from AB&A
Mike Manzoori - The Cinematographer Project
Dane Burman - Road Less Traveled Recut

Mid-Line Trick #3: Fakie Heelflip - Austyn Gillette

The fakie heelflip used to be very scarcely seen in video parts, especially in the middle of a line because it was just a bit too awkward (at least from my experience) for what theoretically should be a basic trick. This past year or so though I've seen the fakie heel come up really well along with the overall trick versatility of skaters, such as Jordan Maxham, Neen, Flo Mirtain, and I remember a nice one from T-Funk's welcome part too. So to use it as one of the most memorable mid-line tricks might seem a bit cheap; then again, when Austyn Gillette does it like in his opening line for Cosmic Vomit 2 (above) it certainly changes things. From the song that makes you want to turn up right away to the smooth 180 down a large set to start the line, and especially when Austyn points at someone ahead right before the fakie heel with an enviable confidence, the build up for the fakie heel gives the same feeling like your favorite basketball player driving through the lane about to posterize the measly defender in the paint. Oh and it sure helps that Austyn has one of the sweetest styles, mixing high pop and a sick flick. The loose trucks swerving away as he lands the fakie heel and the couple powerful switch pushes afterwards just keeps adding goodness to this line all around, so by the time he switch tres down the second set the levels of stoke are already pretty high.