To me it's pointless to go skating without regular lessons because I won't be making any progress and eventually with enough time skating on my own, my jumps will gradually start to get worse.

If I'm on the ice for extended (3+ days) periods of time without a coach, I don't train too hard. There's no point and I risk doing more harm than good to my technique. Once you pick up a bad habit even as simple as a slight lean on a jump landing and don't get corrected on it for a few days, it becomes hard to fix it.

PS: as for the ballet debate..I'm professionally trained as well and spent many summer away at company's ballet camps, and through all of the years have always been told NOT to practice things outside of class, per fear of promoting bad alignment and the like. The only thing we've ever been encouraged to do outside of class is stretch- but definitely not practice. Not to mention, virtually no home has the proper floors (spring floors) for it.

This could be due to either just 1 factor, or even a combination of factors. Some people just like to skate. Some people that are forced to skate or forced to learn to quickly can get put off and then develop a dislike for it. Others may think it is just a chore. So basically, it can be anything.

As for practicing either in lesson time or not in lesson time, it just depends on the individual. Some individuals are flexible and can easily adapt and change their habits. Others may find it hard to change habits. Not everybody is the same.

I think it's easy to be motivated when you can just practice the things you like and you don't "have" to do things you find difficult or unpleasant. However, in order to really improve, we need to practice the difficult, unpleasant things, too. Maybe those skaters who seem unmotivated outside of their lessons are just avoiding those unpleasant but necessary things.

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I have been taking a list w me to the rink. I printed out the requirements for the adult track FS and MITF tests. I also have some dance patterns and a list of things I want to work on. I put the lists in the players' box w my water and tissues. Even in a 2 hr session I can't get through everything. Some of the skills take more reps than others.

Kay

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this really frustrates me... but I am most motivated with friends. if I have my friends practicing with me/watching me at the rink, I feel happier, and I skate much better. I do try to exploit that by pushing myself when I don't see them (as in, come on I have to practice so I can do it the next time) but all my motivation comes from... well, showing off, really. it does sounds bad. but that's what motivates me.
as for coach motivation, i just get perfectionist when I'm near him. i hate it when i think he's watching me in practice if im doing something I'm bad at. i know i know, he sees plenty of my bad skating in the lesson.. but i still dont like him (possibly) seeing me bad outside of the lesson.
interesting reading other points of view!

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I am very self-motivated - I skate 4-5 days a week, but only have 1 lesson a week. When I practice, I work very hard and really try to cover everything. I noticed however, that if my coach goes away and I miss a week or two, my motivation decreases dramatically. There were a few times this summer that my coach was away for 2-3 weeks at a stretch, and I really got stuck in a rut and lost my desire to practice.