The 2018 Slick expanded out to a whole week beginning on Monday and ending on Sunday. For the first time a Slick event was hosted outside The Laird with the Melbourne Rubbermen drinks taking place at Eagle Leather. Slick 2018 was organised by Ben Riethmuller, Liam Clark and Will Gauvin.
Three Rubbermen competed for the third Melbourne Rubberman title.
Events
- Monday, July 9th – Melbourne Rubbermen Welcome Drinks
- Tuesday, July 10th – Melt - The Roast of John Cheshire
- Wednesday, July 11th – Rubber Trivial Hirsute
- Thursday, July 12th – High Shine - Meet the Contestants
- Friday, July 13th – Melbourne Rubberman 2018
- Saturday, July 14th – Rubber Ball Dance Party
- Sunday, July 15th – Rub Down Sunday Social
Venues
- The Laird Hotel, Abbotsford
- Eagle Leather, Abbotsford
Contestants
- Marc Smith
- Nick Mayne
- Matt Shepherd
Hosts
- Ben Riethmuller
- Liam Clark
Judges
- John Cheshire – Melbourne Rubberman 2017
- Will Gauvin – Slick
- James Addinsall – Laird Leatherman 2017
- Shane Morrison – Eagle Leather
- Patrick Greber – Mr Australasia Bear 2016 / Mr VicBears 2016
Tallymaster
- Colonel Dark – Sir’s Lair Sydney
Contest Sponsors
- The Laird Hotel
- Eagle Leather
- DEANation
- Down an’ Dirty
- Melbourne Rubbermen
- RubberBRO
- RubberPigs
The contest ran very similarly to the 2017 competition with the interviews again taking place at the Laird Hotel on the Sunday preceding the contest and the show nights consisting of Rubber Image, Flesh and Fantasy & Talent Rounds. For the first time this year, excerpts from the interview rounds were made available online to introduce each contestant during Slick week.
The Fantasy & Talent round this year was again very entertaining. Marc showed his true flagging colours with an homage to Star Wars, Nick lip synched up a storm to 'Defying Gravity' from the musical Wicked and Matt performing a bondage scene inspired by the Britney Spears track 'Breathe on Me'.
At the end of the evening, Matt was declared the third Melbourne Rubberman.
