Stock exchange bell to ring at Beaver Creek

BEAVER CREEK, Colo. — The Birds of Prey World Cup races at Beaver Creek usually feature plenty of cow bell ringing. This year, one day will start with a different bell.

A group of executives from Colorado-based companies will ring a bell to open the New York Stock Exchange’s trading day on Dec. 5. The races are Dec. 4-7. Traditionally, the opening bell is rung at the stock exchange by various captains of industry.

“I don’t know that they do a lot of remote bell-ringing,” said John Dakin of the Vail Valley Foundation, which organizes the annual races. The ceremony will be held in the Birds of Prey finish area at Beaver Creek at 7:30 a.m. to open the trading day.

Vail Valley Foundation members and board members from Vail Resorts will take part, including company CEO Rob Katz. Other corporate chiefs will include Frederick Barrett of Bill Barrett Corp.; Steve Ells of Chipotle Mexican Grill; H. Craig Clark of Forest Oil; Jerre Stead of IHS; Robert Jornayvaz III of Intrepid Potash; Peter Swinburn of Molson Coors; Richard O'Brien of Newmont Mining; Ed Mueller of Qwest; Thomas Toomey of UDR; and James Volker of Whiting Petroleum.

“It’s great exposure for the event,” Dakin said. “And it doesn’t happen very often.”